Are We on the Same Page? Patient and Provider Perceptions About Exercise in Cancer Care: A Focus Group Study
Abstract
Background: Physical activity (PA) during and after cancer treatment can help with symptom management and reduce the risk of cancer recurrence. However, it is unclear what constitutes an optimal exercise program. In addition, provider and patient barriers exist to the recommendation and adoption of exercise as part of a cancer treatment plan. The goal of this study was to determine how providers and patients feel about exercise during cancer treatment and explore what the barriers to implementing such a program might be. Patients and Methods: Focus groups and interviews were held with patients with malignancy, both metastatic and nonmetastatic, and oncology providers. In total, 20 patients participated in either a focus group or an individual interview and 9 providers contributed to the focus group. An equal number of patients (n=10) were interviewed as attended a focus group. Audiotaped sessions were transcribed verbatim. Theme identification was independently coded by 4 coders and synthesized as a group. Results: Neither patient group recalled PA instruction from oncology providers during their cancer treatment. Most participants (95%) felt exercise is important during cancer treatment, citing overall well-being benefits versus improved disease outcome. Most patients (80%) preferred a home-based exercise program provided by the oncologist. Fatigue was the most cited barrier to regular exercise during treatment (50%). All providers acknowledged benefits of PA to patients, but not universally for all. More than half of providers (55%) preferred a referral system for exercise programs. Clinic visit time constraints and a perceived lack of expertise in the area of PA were common barriers to making exercise recommendations a routine part of the treatment plan. Conclusions: Patients with cancer and oncologists recognize the benefits of PA during treatment. Disagreement exists between to whom, how, and where exercise plans should be disseminated and implemented.
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Observed barriers to clinicians referring patients to exercise programming include lack of awareness of the potential value of exercise in cancer populations, uncertainty regarding the safety or suitability of exercise for a particular patient, lack of awareness regarding available programs, need for education and skills development for making referrals, and a belief that referrals to exercise编程
“Observed barriers to clinicians referring patients to exercise programming include lack of awareness of the potential value of exercise in cancer populations, uncertainty regarding the safety or suitability of exercise for a particular patient, lack of awareness regarding available programs to help facilitate exercise in cancer populations, need for education and skills development for making”
From Exercise is medicine in oncology: Engaging clinicians to help patients move through cancer (2019) · cites this paper as [24]
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- Authors
- Smaradottir, A., Smith, A. L., Borgert, A. J., & Oettel, K. R.
- Affiliations
- Gundersen Medical Foundation (US)
- Gundersen Health System (US)
- ORCID
- Borgert, Andrew J.
- Venue
- Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network
- Publisher
- Harborside Press, LLC
- Published
- 2017-05
- Volume
- 15
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 588-594
- ISSN
- 1540-1405 (ISSN-L)
- 1540-1413
- OpenAlex
- W2611956337
- Cited by
- 49
- References
- 14
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 5 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 7 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 1
- FWCI
- 2.17
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer Risks and Factors
- Keywords
- exercise during cancer treatment, physical activity, barriers to exercise, fatigue, home-based exercise, exercise referral, oncology providers, cancer patients, metastatic cancer, symptom management, cancer recurrence risk
- MeSH terms
- Aged, Cancer Care Facilities, Exercise Therapy, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Perception, Physician-Patient Relations, Focus Groups
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