Liu Mark, Kilbreath Sharon, Yee Jasmine, Beith Jane, McNab Justin, Dylke Elizabeth
The University of Sydney School of Health Sciences, Susan Wakil Health Building, Western Avenue, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia.
The University of Sydney School of Psychology, Brennan-Maccallum Building, Manning Road, Camperdown, NSW, 2050, Australia.
BMC Cancer. 2025 Jan 14;25(1):80. doi: 10.1186/s12885-023-11335-x.
The beneficial role of physical activity for people living with cancer is well established. However, the importance of physical activity to women living with metastatic breast cancer is not known. As motivations and perceptions around physical activity influence behavioural uptake, a qualitative study was undertaken to explore the motivations and perceptions towards physical activity of this group.
Women living with metastatic breast cancer were recruited through a metropolitan cancer centre in Australia to participate in semi-structured interviews about their physical activity. Open-ended questions explored health-specific factors, goals, barriers, enablers, and interests. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed.
Twenty-three women participated; median age was 60 years (IQR: 20) and median time since metastatic diagnosis was 3.3 years (IQR: 3.0). Twelve women were engaged with physical activity, seven reported intentions to be active but found it challenging, and four reported nominal interest in physical activity. Four categories, covering nine themes, were identified: (i) predispositions towards physical activity, incorporating themes on enjoyment and energy, and positivity and mental resilience; (ii) health-related motivations behind physical activity, incorporating themes on physical and mental health benefits; (iii) social motivations behind physical activity, incorporating themes on enjoying exercise with others, role models and social support, and others' negative perceptions of metastatic breast cancer; and (iv) connections between physical activity and metastatic breast cancer, incorporating themes on prognosis uncertainty, and reframing limiting perceptions.
Participants described a wide-ranging spectrum of experiences and perceptions toward physical activity. Whilst most women perceived improved physical and mental well-being from being physically active, some women were not engaged in being physically active. Behaviour change strategies that target both their attitudes and those around them may address this gap.
体育活动对癌症患者的益处已得到充分证实。然而，体育活动对转移性乳腺癌女性患者的重要性尚不清楚。由于围绕体育活动的动机和认知会影响行为的接受程度，因此开展了一项定性研究，以探索该群体对体育活动的动机和认知。
通过澳大利亚一家大都市癌症中心招募转移性乳腺癌女性患者，参与关于其体育活动的半结构化访谈。开放式问题探讨了特定健康因素、目标、障碍、促进因素和兴趣。访谈进行录音、转录并进行主题分析。
23名女性参与；中位年龄为60岁（四分位间距：20），自转移性诊断以来的中位时间为3.3年（四分位间距：3.0）。12名女性参与体育活动，7名表示有积极参与的意愿但觉得具有挑战性，4名表示对体育活动兴趣不大。确定了涵盖九个主题的四个类别：（i）对体育活动的倾向，包括享受和活力、积极心态和心理韧性等主题；（ii）体育活动背后与健康相关的动机，包括身心健康益处等主题；（iii）体育活动背后的社会动机，包括与他人一起享受锻炼、榜样和社会支持以及他人对转移性乳腺癌的负面看法等主题；（iv）体育活动与转移性乳腺癌之间的联系，包括预后不确定性和重新构建有限认知等主题。
参与者描述了对体育活动广泛的经历和认知。虽然大多数女性认为体育活动能改善身心健康，但一些女性并未积极参与体育活动。针对她们自身态度以及周围人态度的行为改变策略可能会弥补这一差距。
