Acceptability and Usefulness of a Dyadic, Tailored, Web-Based, Psychosocial and Physical Activity Self-Management Program (TEMPO): A Qualitative Study

Sylvie D Lambert,Wassim Kassouf,Daniel Santa Mina,Janet Ellis,Karissa Clayberg,Nicole Culos-Reed,Ekaterina Loban,Jamie Lynn Schaffler,Stuart Peacock,Lauren Goldberg,John Wellesley Robinson,Lindsay Rosamond Duncan,Simon Tanguay,Paramita Saha-Chaudhuri,Andrew Matthew,Anne Katz,Phil Pollock

doi:10.3390/jcm9103284

Abstract

Caregivers of men with prostate cancer report high burden, and there is a need to develop cost-effective programs to support them in their roles. This study reports on the acceptability of a dyadic, Tailored, wEb-based, psychosocial and physical activity (PA) self-Management PrOgram called TEMPO. TEMPO was accessed by a convenience sample of 19 men with prostate cancer and their caregivers (n = 18), as well as six health care professionals (HCPs). User feedback was gathered via semi-structured qualitative interviews. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis. Most dyads were satisfied with TEMPO, particularly with the dyadic feature of TEMPO, the focus on goal setting to integrate self-management, and the extensive health library. The patients and caregivers motivated each other as they worked through TEMPO. Most goals to achieve during TEMPO pertained to increasing PA, followed by learning physical symptom management. One unanticipated benefit of TEMPO for the dyads was improved communication. HCPs agreed that TEMPO was a novel approach to online cancer self-management and they echoed the benefits reported by dyads. Key suggestions for improving TEMPO were to reduce repetition, tailor content, add more exercise ideas, and have more printing options. This study provides a strong foundation on which to plan a larger trial.

Highlights

Despite the improvement in survival rates, a prostate cancer diagnosis still elicits negative reactions and confronts both patients and their caregivers with a wide range of physical and psychosocial challenges [1,2,3]
On average patients were in their early 60s, married, and living with their caregivers
One qualitative study on the experience of cancer family caregivers participating in a 6-month physical activity (PA) program described an “upward spiral,” in which caregivers noted “positive ripple effects” from continuous participation in PA [54]

Summary

Introduction

Despite the improvement in survival rates, a prostate cancer diagnosis still elicits negative reactions and confronts both patients and their caregivers with a wide range of physical and psychosocial challenges [1,2,3]. Cancer caregivers (especially females [4]) have been found to be at higher risk of physical and emotional burden than those who care for individuals with diabetes or frail elders [5]. Studies suggest that a third of cancer caregivers report clinically significant levels of anxiety 6 months post patient diagnosis, and continue to be anxious for up to 5 years [6,7,8]. This prevalence exceeds the anxiety rate reported by the patients themselves [9] and population norms [6]. One study found that 43% of caregivers experienced a steady decline in (or chronically below the population norm) physical health in the first 5 years following the patients’ diagnosis [10]

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Discussion

Conclusion