Crowder Sylvia L, Hu Bihe, Hoogland Aasha I, Gudenkauf Lisa M, Li Xiaoyin, Rodriguez Yvelise, Irizarry-Arroyo Nathaly E, Oswald Laura B, Gonzalez Brian D, Small Brent J, Galligan Andrew, Jim Heather S L, Stern Marilyn
H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA.
School of Nursing, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 33612, USA.
J Cancer Surviv. 2025 May 30. doi: 10.1007/s11764-025-01832-2.
Patient preferences for diet and physical activity interventions likely vary by patient age at cancer diagnosis, gender, and ethnicity. Efficacious multiple health behavior interventions to improve diet and physical activity in young adult cancer survivors are critically needed. This study aimed to collect data to inform preferences for diet and physical activity interventions for young adult cancer survivors that could be modified, if needed, based on gender and ethnicity.
Between May 2022 and April 2024, young adult cancer survivors between 20 and 30 years of age participated in an observational study to assess diet and physical activity habits and preferences. Participants completed a survey of diet and physical activity intervention preferences to be used for planning future intervention development. Descriptive statistics were calculated for multiple choice question responses. Intervention preferences for diet and physical activity were compared across self-reported gender (i.e., male vs. female) and race/ethnicity (i.e., Hispanic vs. other) using chi-square tests or Fisher's exact tests (α = 0.05). Responses to open-ended questions were recorded and verified via quality assurance checks by a coauthor.
Study participants (N = 88) completed the preferences survey. Participants' mean age at diagnosis was 23 years, 67% were female, 23% were from a racial/ethnic minority background, and common cancer types included thyroid (24%), lymphoid (19%), and sarcoma (15%). All participants had completed treatment at least 1 year prior to study enrollment (range 1-8 years). Overall, for a dietary intervention, most participants preferred remote-based (e.g., Zoom), one-on-one counseling with a registered dietitian beginning before treatment, and respondents expressed enthusiasm for free dietary coaching and virtual cooking classes. For a physical activity intervention, most participants preferred one-on-one, in-person sessions beginning before treatment, ideally within 1-15 miles from their home that would be free of charge. Participants reported interest in a variety of physical activities, including yoga, strength training, and cardiovascular-based activities (e.g., HIIT, interval training, swimming). There were few differences among gender and ethnicity.
Results indicate that future diet and physical activity intervention development for young adult cancer survivors should focus on strategies to promote one-on-one telehealth dietary counseling and in-person physical activity training. Virtual cooking classes and cookbooks coupled with in-person fitness training were preferred methodologies for young adult cancer survivors in this study.
Study results highlight an opportunity to design a combined diet and physical activity intervention healthy lifestyle program for young adult cancer survivors that blend technology and personal contact.
癌症诊断时患者对饮食和身体活动干预的偏好可能因患者年龄、性别和种族而异。迫切需要有效的多种健康行为干预措施来改善年轻成年癌症幸存者的饮食和身体活动。本研究旨在收集数据，为年轻成年癌症幸存者的饮食和身体活动干预偏好提供信息，如有需要，可根据性别和种族进行调整。
在2022年5月至2024年4月期间，20至30岁的年轻成年癌症幸存者参与了一项观察性研究，以评估饮食和身体活动习惯及偏好。参与者完成了一项饮食和身体活动干预偏好调查，用于规划未来的干预措施开发。对多项选择题的回答进行描述性统计。使用卡方检验或Fisher精确检验（α = 0.05）比较自我报告的性别（即男性与女性）和种族/民族（即西班牙裔与其他）之间对饮食和身体活动的干预偏好。对开放式问题的回答进行记录，并由一位共同作者通过质量保证检查进行核实。
研究参与者（N = 88）完成了偏好调查。参与者诊断时的平均年龄为23岁，67%为女性，23%来自种族/民族少数群体背景，常见癌症类型包括甲状腺癌（24%）、淋巴瘤（19%）和肉瘤（15%）。所有参与者在研究入组前至少已完成治疗1年（范围为1 - 8年）。总体而言，对于饮食干预，大多数参与者更喜欢基于远程的（如Zoom）、在治疗前开始的与注册营养师的一对一咨询，受访者对免费饮食指导和虚拟烹饪课程表示热情。对于身体活动干预，大多数参与者更喜欢在治疗前开始的一对一面对面课程，理想情况下距离他们家1 - 15英里且免费。参与者表示对各种身体活动感兴趣，包括瑜伽、力量训练和基于心血管的活动（如高强度间歇训练、间歇训练、游泳）。性别和种族之间差异不大。
结果表明，未来针对年轻成年癌症幸存者的饮食和身体活动干预开发应侧重于促进一对一远程医疗饮食咨询和面对面身体活动训练的策略。在本研究中，虚拟烹饪课程和食谱加上面对面健身训练是年轻成年癌症幸存者首选的方法。
研究结果凸显了为年轻成年癌症幸存者设计一个结合饮食和身体活动干预的健康生活方式计划的机会，该计划融合了技术和个人接触。
