Abstract
BackgroundThis study examined current physical activity levels and preferences for exercise settings and activities among adult survivors of childhood cancers as a strategy to inform the feasibility and design of such programs.MethodsA mixed-methods design was used to investigate current activity levels as well as barriers to and preferences for physical activity among 20 adult survivors of pediatric cancer.ResultsOne-half of participants reported engaging in regular physical activity, although the frequency, intensity, and duration varied. Overall, 17 of the 20 participants (85%) stated they would be interested in participating in a structured exercise intervention, and they expressed a strong interest in walking (76%), bicycling (53%), and weight training (53%). Common barriers to participation in a potential structured exercise program were insufficient time, current health issues, and program location/distance. Nearly all participants agreed that information on nutrition and diet should be included as part of an exercise intervention.ConclusionsThese findings will help inform the design and implementation of future exercise programs to enhance physical activity among this high-risk group of cancer survivors.
Highlights
This study examined current physical activity levels and preferences for exercise settings and activities among adult survivors of childhood cancers as a strategy to inform the feasibility and design of such programs
One report has suggested that survivors of childhood cancer engage in physical activity at a rate comparable to the general population [1, 2], more recent studies have reported that survivors are less likely to meet physical activity guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control [4,5,6,7]
Approval for this study was granted by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center (RPCCC)
Summary
This study examined current physical activity levels and preferences for exercise settings and activities among adult survivors of childhood cancers as a strategy to inform the feasibility and design of such programs. Cancer survivors often experience immediate and long-term treatment-related complications across a range of functional domains and exhibit an increased prevalence of chronic health conditions (e.g., cardiac, pulmonary, endocrine, reproductive, neurocognitive) [1]. A recent analysis by Hudson et al of the St. Jude Life Cohort found that by age 45 years, 95.5% of survivors had at least one chronic health condition compared to 30.6% of the general U.S population [2]. One report has suggested that survivors of childhood cancer engage in physical activity at a rate comparable to the general population [1, 2], more recent studies have reported that survivors are less likely to meet physical activity guidelines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control [4,5,6,7]
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