Feasibility of a mobile phone application to promote physical activity in cancer survivors

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Event Abstract Back to Event Feasibility of a mobile phone application to promote physical activity in cancer survivors Patrycja Puszkiewicz1, Anna Roberts1, Lee Smith1, Jane Wardle1 and Abi Fisher1* 1 University College London, Research Department of Epidemiology & Public Health,, United Kingdom Background: Regular participation in physical activity is associated with improved physical and psychosocial outcomes in cancer survivors. However, physical activity levels are low during and after cancer treatment. Interventions to promote physical activity in this population are needed. Mobile technology has potential, but currently, there is no mobile phone application designed to promote physical activity in cancer survivors. Objectives: The first aim is to assess feasibility and acceptability of an existing physical activity mobile application (‘app’) designed for the general population, in a sample of breast, colorectal and prostate cancer survivors. A further aim is to understand how the application could be adapted to overcome barriers to physical activity participation in this population. Methods: A feasibility study was carried out that investigated acceptability of and participants’ opinions on the application. A total of 11 cancer survivors tested the application for 6 weeks. Physical activity (Godin Leisure Time Exercise Questionnaire), wellbeing (FACT-G), fatigue (FACIT-Fatigue scale), quality of life (EQ5D), sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) were self-reported at baseline and at 6-week follow-up. Participants completed qualitative telephone interviews about their experiences of using the app, and these were coded using thematic analysis. Results: The application was acceptable among the participants; 73% of people who responded to the study advertisement agreed to participate, and 100% of participants who started the study completed. There was a significant increase in participants’ mean strenuous physical activity of 51.91 minutes per week from baseline to 6-week follow-up (P=0.005). There was also a significant reduction in reported sleep problems from baseline (mean=9.27, SD=6.72) to 6-week follow-up (mean=6.72, SD=5.50; P=0.01). There were no other significant changes in reported outcomes. Four themes were identified from telephone interviews: (1) barriers to physical activity, (2) receiving advice about physical activity from reliable sources, (3) tailoring the application to one’s lifestyle, and (4) receiving social support from others. Conclusions: A commercially available mobile phone application was feasible and acceptable for use in the short term in breast, prostate and colorectal cancer survivors. However, future work should aim to adapt and formally trial a physical activity app in this population using objective measures and longer follow-up. Conflict of Interest: None Acknowledgements In memory of Professor Jane Wardle 1950-2015 Keywords: cancer surviors, physical activity, sleep quality, mHealth, Mobile application, Behaviour Change Conference: 2nd Behaviour Change Conference: Digital Health and Wellbeing, London, United Kingdom, 24 Feb - 25 Feb, 2016. Presentation Type: Poster presentation Topic: Academic Citation: Puszkiewicz P, Roberts A, Smith L, Wardle J and Fisher A (2016). Feasibility of a mobile phone application to promote physical activity in cancer survivors. Front. Public Health. Conference Abstract: 2nd Behaviour Change Conference: Digital Health and Wellbeing. doi: 10.3389/conf.FPUBH.2016.01.00099 Copyright: The abstracts in this collection have not been subject to any Frontiers peer review or checks, and are not endorsed by Frontiers. They are made available through the Frontiers publishing platform as a service to conference organizers and presenters. The copyright in the individual abstracts is owned by the author of each abstract or his/her employer unless otherwise stated. Each abstract, as well as the collection of abstracts, are published under a Creative Commons CC-BY 4.0 (attribution) licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) and may thus be reproduced, translated, adapted and be the subject of derivative works provided the authors and Frontiers are attributed. For Frontiers’ terms and conditions please see https://www.frontiersin.org/legal/terms-and-conditions. Received: 27 Nov 2015; Published Online: 09 Jan 2016. * Correspondence: Dr. Abi Fisher, University College London, Research Department of Epidemiology & Public Health,, London, WC1E 7HB, United Kingdom, abigail.fisher@ucl.ac.uk Login Required This action requires you to be registered with Frontiers and logged in. To register or login click here. Abstract Info Abstract The Authors in Frontiers Patrycja Puszkiewicz Anna Roberts Lee Smith Jane Wardle Abi Fisher Google Patrycja Puszkiewicz Anna Roberts Lee Smith Jane Wardle Abi Fisher Google Scholar Patrycja Puszkiewicz Anna Roberts Lee Smith Jane Wardle Abi Fisher PubMed Patrycja Puszkiewicz Anna Roberts Lee Smith Jane Wardle Abi Fisher Related Article in Frontiers Google Scholar PubMed Abstract Close Back to top Javascript is disabled. Please enable Javascript in your browser settings in order to see all the content on this page.