A longitudinal implementation evaluation of a physical activity program for cancer survivors: LIVESTRONG® at the YMCA

Effect of health conditions and community program participation on physical activity and exercise motivation in older adults

Physical activity (PA) declines with age, with chronic health conditions a contributing factor. Exercise motivation (EM), a factor of PA adherence, may be promoted through community program participation. The purpose was to investigate the effect of health conditions and community program participation on PA and EM. Surveys comprising of demographics, physical activity (PASE), and exercise motivation (BREQ-2), were distributed. Significant differences were found for PA between community program participants with and without a health condition. A significant main effect for health condition existed on several subscales of EM: identified regulation and intrinsic regulation, and for obesity on amotivation, identified regulation, and intrinsic regulation. Significant differences existed between community exercise program participants (N = 77) and non-participants (N = 145) for amotivation (p < 0.001), identified regulation (p < 0.001), and intrinsic regulation (p < 0.001). The presence of a health condition appears to impact EM. Community program participation positively influenced EM, potentially negating the effect of health condition.

The 24-Hour Movement Paradigm: An integrated approach to the measurement and promotion of daily activity in cancer clinical trials

Increased physical activity (PA), improved sleep, and decreased sedentary behavior (SB) are essential components of supportive care for cancer survivors. However, researchers and health care professionals have achieved limited success in improving these behaviors among cancer survivors. One potential reasoning is that, over the past two decades, guidelines for promoting and measuring PA, sleep, and SB have been largely siloed. With greater understanding of these three behaviors, health behavior researchers have recently developed a new paradigm: the 24-Hour movement approach. This approach considers PA, SB, and sleep as movement behaviors along a continuum that represent low through vigorous intensity activity. Together these three behaviors form the sum of an individual's movement across a 24-hour day. While this paradigm has been studied in the general population, its usage is still limited in cancer populations. Here, we seek to highlight (a) the potential benefits of this new paradigm for clinical trial design in oncology; (b) how this approach can allow for greater integration of wearable technology as a means of assessing and monitoring patient health outside the clinical setting, improving patient autonomy through self-monitoring of movement behavior. Ultimately, implementation of the 24-Hour movement paradigm will allow health behavior research in oncology to better promote and assess critical health behaviors to support the long-term well-being for cancer patients and survivors.

Clinical Relevance and Implementation Considerations of Physical Activity in Young Adult Cancer Survivorship: An Expert Consensus Study

Significance: Elevated survival rates in young adult cancer survivors (YACS) are accompanied by high morbidity levels resulting in an array of unmet needs limiting full life potential. Physical activity (PA) improves physical, psychological, and social aspects of health after a cancer diagnosis. There are no standardized PA guidelines tailored to YACS. Therefore, there is a critical need to understand areas of clinical relevance/agreement on PA use and implementation in young adult (YA) survivorship care. Aim: To identify expert consensus areas on the assessment, prescription, and implementation of PA in YA survivorship care; identify areas of clinical relevance and endorsement of PA as a health optimization strategy in YA survivorship care. Methods: A four-round modified Delphi study of international multidisciplinary experts (Round I/II n = 18; Round III n = 57, Round IV n = 45) in exercise oncology, symptom management, survivorship care, youth cancer care was conducted. Qualitative content analysis, descriptive statistics (% agreement, standard deviation, mean), and inter-rater reliability (Kappa) were calculated. Results: Experts reached a consensus on clinical providers needed to assess, refer, and provide PA interventions, the need for guidelines, and essential care delivery system components to foster the integration of PA integration in YA survivorship care as a health optimization activity. Conclusions/Implications: Cancer care integration models should optimize the unique preferences, strengths, and developmental stage of YA affected by cancer. The study adds to the existing literature on multidisciplinary teams needed to provide clinical expertise and organizational support to foster PA integration into YA survivorship care.

Municipal community centers as healthy settings: evaluation of a real-world health promotion intervention in Jerusalem

Background

This study presents an intervention designed to foster the implementation of health promotion programs within District Municipality Community Centers (DMCCs) in Jerusalem, and the creation of a peer network of healthy settings with a shared aspiration of collaborating and implementing health-promoting policies at the community level. We also present the evaluation strategy, based on the EQUIHP and RE-AIM frameworks.

Methods

Twenty DMCCs completed our program. This evaluation research involved a comprehensive seminar during the first year for DMCCs coordinators, teaching them the principles of health promotion. An educational kit was distributed during the second year. The evaluation strategy included a process evaluation and annual evaluations based on the EQUIHP and RE-AIM frameworks. The EQUIHP tool was divided into four dimensions of evaluation: 1) Framework of health promotion principles, 2) Project development and implementation, 3) Project management, and 4) Sustainability; while the RE-AIM domains included: 1)Reach, 2)Effectiveness, 3)Adoption, 4)Implementation and 5)Maintenance.

Results

The program led to high responsiveness among DMCCs and to the implementation of diverse health promotion initiatives, with a participation of approximately 29,191 residents. The EQUIHP evaluation showed an improvement in program quality in Year 2. The final RE-AIM evaluation presented a total median score of 0.61 for all domains, where 0 was non-performance and 1.0 was full performance. The ‘Framework of health promotion principles’ and ‘Reach’ components received the highest median score (0.83, 1.0 and 0.87), while the ‘Sustainability and ‘Maintenance’ components received the lowest (0.5).

Conclusions

This innovative program adapts the Healthy Cities approach (initiated by the World Health Organization in 1986) to the development of community center health-promoting settings within the larger municipal framework, training local community center staff members to assess and address local health concerns and build community capacity. The local focus and efforts may help community actors to create health promotion programs more likely to be adopted, feasible in the ‘real-world’ and able to produce public health impact in the communities where people live. Moreover, collaboration and cooperation among DMCCs may lead to a broader community health vision, forging coalitions that can advocate more powerfully for health promotion.

Trial registration

NIH trial registration number: NCT04470960.

Retrospectively registered on: 14/07/2020.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-022-14220-7.

Feasibility of Implementing Cancer-Specific Community-Based Exercise Programming: A Multi-Centre Randomized Trial

BACKGROUND

There is growing recognition of the importance of reporting preliminary work on the feasibility of a trial. The present study aimed to assess the feasibility of (1) a proposed fitness testing battery, and (2) processes related to the implementation of cancer-specific exercise programming in a community setting.

METHODS/DESIGN

A randomized controlled implementation feasibility trial was performed in advance of a large-scale implementation study. Eligible participants within 18 months of a cancer diagnosis were randomized to immediate or delayed community-based exercise at YMCA locations in Calgary and Edmonton, Canada for an 8-week period. The primary outcome for the trial was the feasibility of the physical fitness testing battery, defined as a 70% or greater completion rate across the 24-week study period. The Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework was used to evaluate processes related to implementation of the exercise program across the two sites.

RESULTS

Eighty participants were recruited, 73 (91%) completed the 8-week trial, and 68 (85%) completed the 16- and 24-week follow-ups. Sixty participants (75%) completed the full physical fitness test battery at each time point, and 59 (74%) completed the patient-reported outcome measures. Statistically significant between-group differences were found in favor of the exercise group for functional aerobic capacity, upper and lower extremity strength, and symptoms. Differences were found between the sites, however, in completion rates and processes related to program implementation.

DISCUSSION

Findings suggest the need for minor adaptations to the physical fitness battery and outcome measures to better fit the community context. While findings support feasibility, context-specific challenges related to implementation processes were identified.

Motivations and Experiences in a Physical Activity Program for Cancer Survivors: Findings from Key Informant Interviews

PURPOSE

LIVESTRONG at the YMCA is an evidence-based 12-week physical activity (PA) program for cancer survivors. The purpose of our study was to understand the factors that motivated cancer survivors to begin the program, how the program impacted their habits, and how their experience influenced their motivation to continue with the program.

APPROACH OR DESIGN

Key informant interviews.

SETTING

Phone interviews conducted between April 15 and June 1, 2020.

PARTICIPANTS

27 cancer survivors in Texas who previously participated in the LS program.

METHOD

Participants completed a 30- to 60-minute interview with one of four interviewers. All interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed for themes.

RESULTS

Most interviewees were motivated to begin the program because of a desire to feel better after treatment. The most cited motivator to continue in the program was the community of cancer survivors. During the program, interviewees enjoyed learning different exercises, the community of cancer survivors, and the supportive teachers. Nearly all interviewees adopted or changed a healthy habit as a result of the program.

CONCLUSION

These results could be used by healthcare professionals to better understand what motivates cancer survivors to participate in a PA program. Results could also be used to plan or modify other PA programs for cancer survivors.

Community-based exercise programs for cancer survivors: A scoping review of program characteristics using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research

OBJECTIVE

To describe the characteristics of exercise programs for cancer survivors conducted outside of a research laboratory (i.e., home-based, or community-based settings).

DATA SOURCES

A systematic search of published literature was conducted using Medline, Pubmed, CINAHL, PsychINFO, SPORTdiscus, and Embase from 1980 to January 2021. Where conference abstracts were identified, authors were contacted for other articles.

STUDY SELECTION

Two independent reviewers screened titles and abstracts, and full texts of potentially relevant studies with discrepancies resolved by discussion. Included studies were reports of exercise programs or interventions in which participants exercise at home, or in a community-based setting, and including individuals diagnosed with cancer either undergoing treatment or who had completed treatment.

DATA EXTRACTION

Data were extracted using the Oxford Implementation Index and coded under the five domains of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Extraction and coding were completed by two independent reviewers, with discrepancies resolved through discussion. Data were synthesized narratively according to CFIR.

DATA SYNTHESIS

A total of 58 publications describing 34 individual programs from around the world were included. Of these, only 14 publications had the specific goal of reporting on program implementation and development. A variety of intervention characteristics and characteristics of individuals involved in the intervention were described. Reporting of factors related to the CFIR domains of inner setting, outer setting and implementation process were minimal.

CONCLUSIONS

This review summarizes the characteristics of existing programs that have been reported in the literature and finds that partnerships and collaboration in the inner and outer setting, and as part of the process of implementation. This review highlights key knowledge gaps to be answered in order to support the development of future community-based interventions.

Experiences and perceptions of referrals to a community-based physical activity program for cancer survivors: a qualitative exploration

BACKGROUND

Physical activity rates in cancer survivors continue to be low despite the known benefits and availability of evidence-based programs. LIVESTRONG at the Y is a national community-based physical activity program offered cost-free to cancer survivors, though is underutilized. We explored perceptions and experiences of staff and participating survivors to better understand program awareness, referrals and participation.

METHODS

LIVESTRONG at the Y program staff [directors (n = 16), instructors (n = 4)] and survivors (n = 8) from 8 United States YMCAs took part in 30-min semi-structured phone interviews between March-May 2019. Interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed, and evaluated using a thematic analysis approach.

RESULTS

Program staff themes included: 1) Program awareness should be further developed for both the general public and medical providers; 2) Strong relationships with medical providers increased program referrals; 3) Electronic referral systems between providers and LIVESTRONG would help to streamline the referral process; and 4) Bi-directional communication between program staff and medical providers is key to providing patient progress updates. Survivor themes included: 1) Survivors trust their medical team and the information they provide about physical activity; 2) Providers need to incorporate an action plan and referrals for survivors to be active once treatments are completed; and 3) Personal experiences of those who participated in LIVESTRONG resonate with survivors and increase participation.

CONCLUSIONS

LIVESTRONG staff reported the need for an integrated electronic referral system and bi-directional communication with providers about participant progress. Survivors want physical activity education, electronic referrals and follow-up from their healthcare team, coupled with peer support from other survivors. Cancer care provider knowledge and electronic referrals during and after treatment may expedite and increase participation in this community-based program.

Evaluating implementation and pragmatism of cancer-specific exercise programs: a scoping review

PURPOSE

Studies in exercise oncology are increasingly evaluating the implementation of cancer-specific exercise programming in real-world settings. Evaluating current implementation efforts and identifying current research gaps may inform future implementation. This scoping review explores studies implementing cancer-specific exercise programs to determine their pragmatic characteristics and evaluate potential for translation into practice.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was conducted using five databases (up to July 2020) to identify implementation studies that used qualitative or quantitative methods. Program pragmatism was evaluated using the PRECIS/RE-AIM tool.

RESULTS

Fourteen articles were included for review. While programs were moderately pragmatic (average: 3.4; range: 2.8-4.2), variability was observed between scoring domains. Programs scored higher (more pragmatic) in domains typical for effectiveness studies, including participant eligibility, follow-up intensity, primary trial outcome, and analysis of primary outcome. In contrast, programs scored lower (less pragmatic) in domains aligned with implementation science, including intervention flexibility, adoption, implementation, and maintenance. Limited information was reported regarding program fidelity, adaptations, and maintenance/sustainability.

CONCLUSION

Researchers should consider the pragmatism of interventions, the nuances of program adoption and implementation at the setting level, and the transition and integration of programming into the healthcare system. Future studies may benefit from the inclusion of decision-makers and implementation experts and shifting focus towards flexible programming. PRECIS/RE-AIM may facilitate the evaluation of programs throughout the study design and implementation process.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS

The implementation of pragmatic exercise programs that are both scalable and sustainable is needed so that cancer survivors can experience exercise-related benefits beyond research settings.

Moving through cancer: Setting the agenda to make exercise standard in oncology practice

LAY SUMMARY

International evidence-based guidelines support the prescription of exercise for all individuals living with and beyond cancer. This article describes the agenda of the newly formed Moving Through Cancer initiative, which has a primary objective of making exercise standard practice in oncology by 2029.