Finless Alexandra, Bansal Mannat, Christensen Thomas, Culos-Reed S Nicole, Cuthbert Colleen A, Dreger Julianna, Langley Jodi E, Keats Melanie R
School of Health and Human Performance, Division of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada.
Physical Activity and Cancer Lab, Dalhousie University and Nova Scotia Health, Halifax, NS B3H 1V7, Canada.
Curr Oncol. 2025 Mar 20;32(3):181. doi: 10.3390/curroncol32030181.
Exercise is an evidence-based strategy shown to reduce the negative side effects associated with cancer treatment for individuals living with and beyond cancer (LWBC). Healthcare providers (HCPs) play a critical role in promoting exercise for these individuals. Notwithstanding, several barriers hinder HCPs' ability to discuss and support exercise in clinical practice. EXCEL is an exercise intervention designed to address health disparities in access to exercise oncology resources for rural/remote individuals LWBC, including a referral pathway for HCPs to use. The purpose of this study was to evaluate HCP experiences using the EXCEL exercise referral pathway. We employed an interpretive description methodology, using semi-structured interviews to assess HCP experiences with EXCEL. Overall, HCPs felt empowered to refer to exercise when they were supported in doing so. The findings highlighted (1) a need for a better understanding of the role of exercise professionals and their integration into cancer care; (2) the need for efficient referral systems including embedding referrals into existing health care electronic record systems; and (3) sharing patient feedback with exercise oncology programs back to the HCPs to drive continued referrals.
运动是一种基于证据的策略，已证明对癌症患者及癌症康复者（LWBC）可减少与癌症治疗相关的负面副作用。医疗保健提供者（HCPs）在促进这些个体进行运动方面发挥着关键作用。尽管如此，仍有一些障碍阻碍了HCPs在临床实践中讨论和支持运动。EXCEL是一项运动干预措施，旨在解决农村/偏远地区癌症患者及癌症康复者在获取运动肿瘤学资源方面的健康差异，包括为HCPs提供一个可供使用的转诊途径。本研究的目的是评估HCPs使用EXCEL运动转诊途径的体验。我们采用了一种诠释性描述方法，通过半结构化访谈来评估HCPs对EXCEL的体验。总体而言，当HCPs在获得支持时，他们会更有动力推荐患者进行运动。研究结果强调了：（1）需要更好地理解运动专业人员的角色及其融入癌症护理的方式；（2）需要高效的转诊系统，包括将转诊嵌入现有的医疗电子记录系统；（3）将患者反馈与运动肿瘤学项目分享给HCPs，以推动持续转诊。
