Poster Presentation Cancer Survivorship 2017

Breast cancer survivors' long-term goals for participating in an online physical activity program. Lessons learned in the iMove more for life RCT.   (#77)

Camille E Short 1 , Erica L James 2 , Amanda L Rebar 3 , Mitch J Duncan 2 , Kerry Courneya 4 , Ron C Plotnikoff 2 , Rik Crutzen 5 , Niranjan Bidargaddi Parameshwar 6 , Corneel Vandelanotte 3
  1. The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
  2. University of Newcastle, Newcastle , NSW, Australia
  3. CQUniversity , Rockhampton, QLD, Australia
  4. University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
  5. Maastricht university, Maastricht , Netherlands
  6. Flinders University , Adelaide , Australia

Background: Patient-centered interventions are needed to support breast cancer survivors to increase their participation in physical activity. Such interventions should accommodate the goals of the user. We conducted an online intervention study with post-treatment breast cancer survivors (n = 492). As part of this intervention, participants were prompted to write down their long-term physical activity goal. Aim: The current study aimed to identify common themes in participant's goal data and highlight possible intervention design implications.  Method: Of the 492 participants enrolled in intervention, 370 (75%) specified their long-term (‘1-year from today’) goal. Data were analysed using an inductive thematic analysis approach. Results: The majority of participants (60%) reported multi-faceted goals, consisting of two or more outcomes they would like to achieve (e.g., “Losing 10kg, walk for 30 minutes every day, and being able to walk around Singapore during our holidays”). Overall, the most common goals related to having a regular exercise routine, being satisfied with body weight or image, increasing fitness and strength and improving current health issues. While these goals are in line with previous research examining key exercise motives among breast cancer survivors, we found that there was considerable variability in  goal scope between individuals. For example, the extent of weight loss desired ranged from 2kg-30kg. Further, some people reported weight loss goals using other metrics, such as clothes sizes, and waist circumference. Discussion: Our study provides a nuanced understanding of breast cancer survivors’ long-term goals for participating in an intervention program. This information is invaluable for designing future interventions that better accommodate individual's needs.