Agasi-Idenburg S C, Joosten M M J, Hoedjes M, Buffart L M, Kampshoff C S, Stuiver M M
Division of Psychosocial Research and Epidemiology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Research Group Innovation of Movement Care, University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
J Cancer Surviv. 2025 May 28. doi: 10.1007/s11764-025-01767-8.
Maintaining exercise behavior is crucial for cancer survivors, yet adherence to exercise recommendations remains low. This study explores the experiences and perspectives of community-working physical therapists and survivors of cancer regarding barriers and facilitators that support the maintenance of exercise behavior post-treatment.
A qualitative, exploratory focus group design was employed, using purposive sampling to recruit oncology physical therapists and cancer survivors who had undergone physical therapy. The study assessed current physical therapy practices, barriers, and facilitators to exercise maintenance through thematic content analysis Braun and Clarke.
Six focus groups with 26 participants (12 cancer survivors and 14 physical therapists) revealed three main themes: (1) transition challenges from supervised therapy to independent exercise, (2) environmental constraints on exercise adherence, and (3) motivators and supportive factors to help independent exercise. Transition challenges included a lack of knowledge and skills, persistent symptoms, and psychological recovery. Environmental constraints involved prioritizing exercise over work and family and limited financial resources. Motivators and supportive factors included goal-setting, gradual reduction in physical therapy sessions, and building confidence in self-management among cancer survivors.
Both physical therapists and cancer survivors experience challenges in concluding the treatment relationship. The identified facilitators for independent exercise can assist physical therapists in developing effective exercise programs that promote patient independence during and after physical therapy treatment.
Understanding these barriers and facilitators can help tailor interventions that enhance long-term exercise adherence, ultimately improving health outcomes and quality of life for cancer survivors.
保持运动行为对癌症幸存者至关重要，但对运动建议的依从性仍然很低。本研究探讨了社区工作的物理治疗师和癌症幸存者在支持治疗后保持运动行为的障碍和促进因素方面的经历和观点。
采用定性的探索性焦点小组设计，通过目的抽样招募接受过物理治疗的肿瘤物理治疗师和癌症幸存者。该研究通过主题内容分析（布劳恩和克拉克）评估了当前的物理治疗实践、运动维持的障碍和促进因素。
六个焦点小组的26名参与者（12名癌症幸存者和14名物理治疗师）揭示了三个主要主题：（1）从监督治疗到独立运动的过渡挑战，（2）运动依从性的环境限制，以及（3）帮助独立运动的动机和支持因素。过渡挑战包括知识和技能的缺乏、持续症状以及心理恢复。环境限制包括将运动置于工作和家庭之上的优先级以及有限的财政资源。动机和支持因素包括目标设定、物理治疗课程的逐渐减少以及癌症幸存者自我管理信心的建立。
物理治疗师和癌症幸存者在结束治疗关系方面都面临挑战。确定的独立运动促进因素可以帮助物理治疗师制定有效的运动计划，在物理治疗期间和之后促进患者的独立性。
了解这些障碍和促进因素有助于量身定制干预措施，提高长期运动依从性，最终改善癌症幸存者的健康结果和生活质量。
