Lifestyle Behavior Change Interventions Research Articles

The blood pressure postpartum (BP2) RCT: Testing utility of structured follow-up and lifestyle behaviour change interventions in the first 12 months following hypertensive pregnancy

The blood pressure postpartum (BP2) RCT: Testing utility of structured follow-up and lifestyle behaviour change interventions in the first 12 months following hypertensive pregnancy

Characterization and efficacy of lifestyle behavior change interventions among adult rural cancer survivors: a systematic review.

Little is known about the intersection between age and rurality as characteristics that impact lifestyle behavior change for cancer survivors. This review aims to summarize the current literature on lifestyle behavior change interventions conducted among rural survivors of cancer, with an emphasis on older survivors. A systematic search of five databases identified randomized controlled trials and controlled clinical trials that targeted diet, physical activity, alcohol consumption, or tobacco use change in adult cancer survivors living in rural areas of the world. Eight studies met the inclusion criteria. Most studies were conducted in either Australia or the USA, included survivors at least 6weeks post-treatment, and half included only breast cancer survivors, while the other four included a mix of cancer types. All but one had a physical activity component. No articles addressed changes in alcohol or tobacco behavior. Seven (87.5%) had a fully remote or hybrid delivery model. Most of the physical activity interventions showed significant changes in physical activity outcomes, while the dietary interventions showed changes of clinical but not statistical significance. Few studies have been conducted to implement and evaluate the effectiveness of lifestyle behavior change interventions among older rural survivors of cancer. Future research should evaluate the acceptability and relevancy of adapted, evidence-based intervention with this population. Effective diet and physical activity interventions exist, albeit limited in terms of effective lifestyle behavior change intervention tailored to older, rural survivors of cancer, particularly in relation to alcohol and tobacco behaviors.

Abstract A011: Lifestyle behavior change interventions among adult rural cancer survivors: A systematic review

Abstract Introduction: Though lifestyle behavior, such as dietary pattern or physical activity, has been shown to improve symptoms related to cancer treatment and secondary comorbidities (i.e., pain, fatigue, poor functionality), adherence to health-promoting behavioral interventions is low, particularly among older, rural-dwelling survivors of cancer. Shifting population dynamics in cancer survivorship regarding both aging and rurality indicate that it is crucial to understand the health needs of this older, lower resourced population if acceptable and effective lifestyle interventions are to be developed and implemented. This review aimed to summarize lifestyle behavior change interventions conducted among rural survivors of cancer, with an emphasis on older survivors. Methods: A systematic search of five databases (i.e., PubMed, CINAHL, CENTRAL, EMBASE, PsycINFO) identified randomized controlled trials and controlled clinical trials which targeted diet and/or physical activity change in adult cancer survivors living in rural areas. The conduct and reporting of this review adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA). The protocol for this review was registered with PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42021282313). Articles were screened for eligibility by two independent reviewers and data were extracted using an a priori developed form. Results: Eight studies met the inclusion criteria. Average participant age was 59.9 years (range: 29-90 years). While three studies (37%) reported a mean sample age of 65 years or greater, none identified a priori inclusion criteria encompassing both older age and rurality. Most studies were conducted in Australia (n=4) or the United States (n=3), focused on breast cancer survivors (n=4), and included survivors at least 6-weeks post-treatment (n=5). Six (75%) had a fully remote or hybrid delivery model. Results from the three interventions which enrolled a mean study sample of 65 years or greater indicated that lower percentages of older, rural-dwelling participants met study goals related to fruit, vegetable, and saturated fat intake than younger and/or urban survivors. Older, rural-dwelling survivors reported greater improvements in physical function and physical activity post-intervention than older, urban-dwelling participants. Conclusions: Few studies have been conducted to evaluate the efficacy of lifestyle behavior change intervention among rural-dwelling survivors of cancer. None have been designed for older survivors living in rural areas, despite lower adherence to lifestyle behavior recommendations for survivors. There is a need to identify feasible and effective approaches to influence clinically meaningful behavior change for this population. Future research should evaluate the acceptability and relevancy of adapted, evidence-based intervention with older, rural-dwelling survivors of cancer. Citation Format: Samantha J. Werts, Rogelio Robles-Morales, Jennifer W. Bea, Cynthia A. Thomson. Lifestyle behavior change interventions among adult rural cancer survivors: A systematic review [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference: Aging and Cancer; 2022 Nov 17-20; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;83(2 Suppl_1):Abstract nr A011.

Information and Communications Technology-Based Telehealth Approach for Occupational Therapy Interventions for Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review.

(1) Background: Occupational therapy (OT) practice has a unique perspective that addresses the complex needs of cancer survivors. Despite the expanded research and application of OT services using telehealth (TH) to promote clients’ health and well-being, studies on OT services using TH for cancer survivors are rare. This study aimed to review the TH approaches in the scope of OT and the outcome of factors affecting occupational engagement in adult cancer survivors. (2) Materials and Methods: This systematic review performed a literature search of five databases (Medline Complete, PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Web of Science) using a combination of keywords and cross-referencing. Studies were included if they described a TH intervention within the scope of OT practice to improve occupational engagement. (3) Results: Fifteen studies (12 randomized controlled trials, three quasiexperimental studies) were reviewed. Physical activity had a positive effect on physical and cognitive function. Symptom self-management showed positive effects on the relief of symptom burden. Psychosocial interventions, which included cognitive behavioral therapy, problem-solving, cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, mind–body training, reduced sleep disturbance, and improved physical activity. Lifestyle behavior change interventions improved participation in moderate-intensity physical activity and diet quality. In addition, these interventions reduced cancer-related symptoms such as pain, depression, fatigue, distress, and improved quality of life. There were no direct outcomes of occupational engagement, excluding sleep, that could be confirmed through this review. (4) Conclusion: This review explored and confirmed the usefulness of TH approaches in the scope of OT practice in adult cancer survivors. It also supports the notion that OT-specific research using TH interventions for cancer survivors will be needed in the future.

Using discrete choice experiments to develop and deliver patient-centered psychological interventions: a systematic review

ABSTRACT Developing and/or tailoring psychological interventions to align with patient preferences is a critical component of patient-centered care and has the potential to improve patient engagement and treatment outcomes. Discrete choice experiments (DCEs) are a quantitative method of assessing patient preferences that offer numerous strengths (i.e., ability to account for trade-offs), but are not routinely incorporated into health psychology coursework, likely leaving many unaware of the potential benefits of this methodology. To highlight the potential applications of DCEs within health psychology, this systematic review synthesises previous efforts to utilise DCEs to inform the design of patient-centered psychological care, defined as interventions targeting psychological (e.g., depression, anxiety) or behavioural health (e.g., pain management, adherence) concerns. Literature searches were conducted in March 2017 and November 2019 for articles reporting on DCEs using the terms ‘discrete choice’, ‘conjoint’, or ‘stated preference’. Thirty-nine articles met all inclusion criteria and used DCEs to understand patient preferences regarding psychosocial clinical services (n = 12), lifestyle behaviour change interventions (n = 11), HIV prevention and/or intervention services (n = 10), disease self-management programmes (n = 4), or other interventions (n = 2). Clinical implications as well as limitations and directions for future research are discussed.

A Cluster Randomized Trial of a Community-Based Intervention Among African-American Adults: Effects on Dietary and Physical Activity Outcomes.

Evidence of the effectiveness of community-based lifestyle behavior change interventions among African-American adults is mixed. We implemented a behavioral lifestyle change intervention, Heart Matters, in two rural counties in North Carolina with African-American adults. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of Heart Matters on dietary and physical activity behaviors, self-efficacy, and social support. We used a cluster randomized controlled trial to compare Heart Matters to a delayed intervention control group after 6 months. A total of 143 African-American participants were recruited and 108 completed 6-month follow-up assessments (75.5%). We used mixed regression models to evaluate changes in outcomes from baseline to 6-month follow-up. The intervention had a significant positive effect on self-reported scores of encouragement of healthy eating, resulting in an increase in social support from family of 6.11 units (95% CI [1.99, 10.22]) (p < .01). However, intervention participants also had an increase in discouragement of healthy eating compared to controls of 5.59 units (95% CI [1.46, 9.73]) among family (p < .01). There were no significant differences in changes in dietary behaviors. Intervention participants had increased odds (OR = 2.86, 95% CI [1.18, 6.93]) of increased frequency of vigorous activity for at least 20 min per week compared to control participants (p < .05). Individual and group lifestyle behavior counseling can have a role in promoting physical activity levels among rural African-American adults, but more research is needed to identify the best strategies to bolster effectiveness and influence dietary change. Trial Registration: Clinical Trials, NCT02707432. Registered 13 March 2016.

Mental health outcomes of male-only lifestyle behaviour change interventions: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction: Poor mental health in men is an increasing global health concern, but men are reluctant to participate in traditional mental health treatments. Male-only interventions targeting lifestyle behaviours (e.g., physical activity) have shown promise for improving men's physical health, but the impact of these programs on psychological outcomes has not been evaluated. This systematic review was conducted to examine the impact of male-only lifestyle behaviour change interventions on men's mental health.

Lifestyle behaviour change for preventing the progression of chronic kidney disease: a systematic review

ObjectivesModifying lifestyle can prevent the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) but the specific elements which lead to favourable behaviour change are not well understood. We aimed to identify and...

Feasibility of a behavioral automaticity intervention among African Americans at risk for metabolic syndrome

BackgroundTargeting habit-development (behavioral automaticity) as part of healthy lifestyle behavior change interventions may improve the adoption and maintenance of healthful behaviors. Few studies, however, have evaluated the feasibility of using a habit-development approach to foster the adoption of recommended physical activity and dietary behaviors. We report quantitative and qualitative data from a feasibility study evaluating a habit-formation intervention to foster healthy dietary and physical activity habits among middle aged African Americans with metabolic syndrome.MethodsUsing a non-comparative design we evaluated the feasibility an 8-week, hybrid format (telecoaching and face-to-face sessions), habit-focused intervention targeting the development of healthful dietary and physical activity habit development among 24 African Americans aged 40 and older with metabolic syndrome recruited from the emergency department – a setting where individuals in under-resourced communities often go for primary care. We administered behavioral automaticity measures tailored to participants’ self-selected habits biweekly during the intervention and collected clinical outcomes of systolic blood pressure, weight, waist circumference, and BMI at baseline week 20.ResultsParticipant attrition from the program was high (~ 50%). Despite high levels of attrition, 92% of intervention completers were extremely satisfied with the program. Intervention completers also experienced gains in behavioral automaticity for both dietary and physical activity habits. Overall, higher levels of adherence were associated with higher positive gains in automaticity with the statistical significance of the associations being more pronounced for physical activity habit plans relative to dietary habit plans.ConclusionsOur preliminary data support a habit-development approach for fostering the adoption of healthful dietary and physical activity habits. However, in this pilot study high rates of attrition were seen, suggesting that strategies to improve retention and participant engagement should be included in future studies, particularly when targeting African American emergency department patients.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03370419 Registered 12/11/2017, retrospectively registered.

Developing a National Undergraduate Curriculum for Health Professionals in Ireland on health behaviour change (Making Every Contact Count)

Introduction: (comprising context and the problem statement) The Integrated care Programme in Ireland aims to integrate prevention and management of chronic disease into clinical practice. It will require changes in service delivery to make every clinical consultation count to: Routinely assess patients for their lifestyle risk factors for chronic disease Support patients in changing their lifestyle related health behavior Encourage self-management for patients with existing chronic disease. Changing this culture and practice to Make Every Contact Count will require upskilling of our existing healthcare staff and teaching the skills and knowledge required in undergraduate training programmes for all health professionals as outlined in the National Implementation plan for Healthy Ireland in the Health Services (2015-2017). Short description of practice change implemented: All new staff in the Irish health service will “Make Every Contact Count” by routinely assessing patients risk factors for chronic disease and carrying out a lifestyle behavior change intervention as part of all clinical interactions. Aim and theory of change: In 2015, the Health and Wellbeing Division, HSE established a collaborative between the Higher Education Institutions in Ireland to develop a competency based national standard undergraduate curriculum for medical, nursing and allied health professionals to support the integration of chronic disease prevention into clinical practice by Making Every Contact Count through brief interventions. Targeted population and stakeholders: Targeted population: All undergraduate students on health professional degree programmes. Key stakeholders are: HSE, HEI’s, all service users including those at risk of chronic disease and who have chronic diseases. Timeline: The curriculum will be delivered in relevant courses in HEI’s in Ireland from September 2017. Highlights: (Innovation, Impact and outcomes) This is the first time that a collaborative standard competency based national curriculum for healthcare professionals has been developed in Ireland. Collaborative health service and education initiative Shifts the emphasis towards chronic disease prevention in training healthcare professionals Evidence informed curriculum: The curriculum includes lifestyle choices and personal wellness, communicating with patients for chronic disease prevention and health behaviour change interventions to Make Every Contact Count. Comments on sustainability: Supports sustainable change in the routine delivery of lifestyle behaviour change interventions as part of all clinical consultations. Comments on transferability: Internationally transferable into other undergraduate training programmes for healthcare professionals. Conclusions: (comprising main findings) A nationally directed, collaborative approach was useful in: Creating leadership and commitment to the curriculum across all HEI’s Providing a multidisciplinary approach to its development Supporting the collective exchange of knowledge and resources. Supporting the implementation across all HEI’s in Ireland. Discussions: New staff recruited in the HSE will have the skills and knowledge to carry out brief interventions as a routine part of all their clinical consultations. Lessons learned: The importance of champions within positions of influence in each HEI was crucial to support the curriculum development and implementation. Progress to date: Curriculum has been developed and plans for implementation in each HEI are being developed.

Impact of Obesity and Other Chronic Conditions on Lifestyle Exercise During the Year After Completion of Cardiac Rehabilitation.

Patients who attend cardiac rehabilitation programs have a high prevalence of multiple chronic conditions (MCCs). The extent to which different constellations of MCC influence lifestyle exercise in the year after completion of an outpatient phase 2 cardiac rehabilitation program (CRP) is unknown. Our objective was to examine the effects of MCC on lifestyle exercise in the year after completion of a CRP. The effects of different constellations of comorbidities on objectively measured lifestyle exercise were examined using data from a randomized controlled trial testing lifestyle behavior change interventions in patients with cardiac events (n = 379) who completed a phase 2 CRP. Adjusting for important covariates, the relationships between the primary outcome, exercise amount, and the presence of common chronic conditions (hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and arthritis) were studied using robust linear mixed-effects models. Diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and their dyads, triads, and quads have a negative impact on amount of exercise. For example, the cooccurrences of obesity and hypertension reduced lifestyle exercise by 2.83 hours per month (95% CI, 1.33-4.33) after adjustment for the effects of covariates. The presence of obesity was a major factor in the comorbid constellations affecting lifestyle exercise. The presence of obesity and other chronic conditions negatively impacts lifestyle exercise in the year after a CRP. The magnitude of the effect depends on the comorbidities. Different constellations of comorbid conditions can be used to identify those persons at greatest risk for not exercising after cardiac rehabilitation.

Dietary habits and supplementation practices of young women during pregnancy: an online cross-sectional survey of young mothers and health care professionals

BackgroundNutrition is a modifiable factor affecting birth outcomes, particularly in adolescent pregnancies. This study explores diet and supplementation practices, information and advice before, during and after pregnancy from the perspectives of pregnant or new young mothers and healthcare professionals.MethodsTwo cross-sectional surveys used online questionnaires for young women who were currently pregnant or who had recently given birth, and health care professionals providing antenatal care. The surveys utilised a combination of question types including free text and multiple choice. Recruitment was conducted via the Tommy's website, online forums for young mothers and professional networks.ResultsA total of 205 young women and 146 health care professionals were included in the study.Most young women reported taking supplements at some stage of pregnancy (93.2%), with 54.6% taking it on a daily basis. Those who reported taking supplements less than 7 days a week stated it was mainly due to forgetting. Health care professionals however reported that some young women had difficulties accessing healthy start supplements. Young women reported positive dietary changes; however a significant proportion of participants indicated that they avoided some foods unnecessarily. Avoiding or reducing foods such as red meat (22.7%), eggs (40.6%), oily fish (60.4%) and soft cheese (36.2%) is of concern. Midwife/family nurse (38.0%) was young women's current favourite information source; smartphone applications (apps) and recipe booklets were suggested by over 50% of participants as a new addition to existing services. Health care professionals reported they included nutritional information and support as part of their role; however they felt there were some gaps in knowledge and confidence. Midwives in particular suggested a lack of sufficient time and resources as a main challenge in providing adequate support.ConclusionsAvoiding or reducing major food groups was reported which can indicate a poor dietary pattern. A positive change in dietary intake reported by the majority of young women in this survey indicates willingness to adopt a healthy lifestyle. This, in addition to their trust in health professionals particularly midwives, provides an opportunity for health interventions which support behaviour change to improve birth outcomes. Identified gaps in knowledge and confidence by health professionals in providing dietary advice highlight the need for some additional training for health professionals in delivering dietary and lifestyle behaviour change interventions. Independent and trustworthy online resources for women and their health professionals which can be accessed at any time to provide up to date information in between appointments are also required.

Engaging Fathers in the Promotion of Healthy Lifestyle Behaviors.

Parental engagement is an important component in lifestyle behavior change interventions for children as parents are uniquely positioned to establish a healthy environment and model healthy eating and physical activity habits for their children. Despite both mothers and fathers being important agents of behavioral change for their children, fathers are typically underrepresented in programming interventions. Physical activity may be an important strategy for fathers to become involved in lifestyle change with their children as, compared to mothers, fathers traditionally tend to be comfortable engaging in physical activity with their children.

Abstract A08: Concordance in patient and provider priorities and preferences to address behavioral risk factors for cancer health disparities interventions

Abstract Purpose: Actively engaging key stakeholders in the development of interventions is necessary to address cancer health disparities. While lay community residents are often included in these efforts, the preferences of patients and providers in primary care settings are often not elicited. We used focus groups and key informant interviews to identify priorities and preferences for lifestyle modification and health behavior change interventions among primary care patients and providers. Methods: Patients (n=35) and providers (n=18) from 3 rural and 5 urban primary care practices that were part of a practice-based research network were recruited to participate in a 60-90 minute focus group or 20-30 minute key informant interview, respectively. Focus groups and key informant interviews were facilitated using a semi-structured discussion guide that asked patients and providers to identify barriers and facilitators to lifestyle modification and health behavior change among patients and implementation of interventions in the practice, the interventions that are preferred by patients, and interventions that can be implemented in the practice. Data were analyzed using NVivo 10 to identify emergent themes. Results: There was concordance between patients and providers in terms of wanting interventions that address diet and physical activity to manage chronic conditions. Patients and providers also identified similar barriers to implementing interventions to address these behaviors: lack of patient motivation and knowledge and limited capacity and knowledge among providers to deliver intensive interventions. Both patients and providers indicated that tailored interventions are most likely to be effective, but resource constraints in the practice were potential barriers to implementation of these types of programs. Despite concordance in preferences for diet and physical activity interventions between patients and providers, there was disagreement about how the effects of these interventions should be monitored. Patients wanted to be held accountable to providers, but providers wanted patients to be accountable to themselves. Conclusions: Our findings emphasize the importance of actively engaging patient and provider stakeholders in efforts to develop interventions that address behavioral risk factors for cancer health disparities. While there is concordance between patients and providers in terms of the behavioral focus of interventions and barriers and facilitators to implementation, there may be discordance in terms of how the effects of interventions are monitored. Efforts to disseminate and implement evidence-based interventions into primary care should consider the preferences of both patients and providers. Citation Format: LaShanta J. Rice, Melanie Jefferson, Cathy L. Melvin, Chanita Hughes Halbert. Concordance in patient and provider priorities and preferences to address behavioral risk factors for cancer health disparities interventions. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eighth AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 13-16, 2015; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2016;25(3 Suppl):Abstract nr A08.

Integration of BCTs in a Companion App to Support and Motivate Teenagers in the Adoption of Healthy Lifestyle Behaviours

Integration of BCTs in a Companion App to Support and Motivate Teenagers in the Adoption of Healthy Lifestyle Behaviours

Mediterranean diet interventions to prevent cognitive decline--opportunities and challenges.

Cognitive decline has a profound impact on the health and quality of life of older people and their caregivers. Exploring mechanisms to delay cognitive decline has become an urgent economic priority, given the projected changes in population demographics. Systematic reviews and meta-analyses of observational studies suggest that adherence to a Mediterranean Diet (MD) is associated with reduced cognitive decline, but such an observation needs to be tested in randomised controlled trials. Intervention evidence is currently limited, and future studies need to be adequately powered, with careful attention given to choice of participants, outcomes being assessed, study duration and strategies to achieve compliance. Alongside these studies, consideration has to be given to how best promote and encourage dietary change in older people in general, and particularly in those experiencing the early stages of cognitive decline, as there may be specific factors that need to be considered when designing lifestyle behaviour change interventions in this group.

Supporting effective lifestyle behaviour change interventions

Improving the health of the population, and morbidity and mortality associated with non-communicable diseases, is a national priority. Health education and promotion should focus on avoiding harmful behaviours such as excessive alcohol intake, smoking and poor diet. It is argued that each patient contact should involve health promotion and that healthcare professionals should be encouraged to discuss and support effective lifestyle behaviour change interventions.

A review of economic evaluations of behavior change interventions: setting an agenda for research methods and practice

The objective of this study was to review methodological quality of economic evaluations of lifestyle behavior change interventions (LBCIs) and to examine how they address methodological challenges for public health economic evaluation identified in the literature. Pubmed and the NHS economic evaluation database were searched for published studies in six key areas for behavior change: smoking, physical activity, dietary behavior, (illegal) drug use, alcohol use and sexual behavior. From included studies (n = 142), we extracted data on general study characteristics, characteristics of the LBCIs, methodological quality and handling of methodological challenges. Economic evaluation evidence for LBCIs showed a number of weaknesses: methods, study design and characteristics of evaluated interventions were not well reported; methodological quality showed several shortcomings and progress with addressing methodological challenges remained limited. Based on the findings of this review we propose an agenda for improving future evidence to support decision-making. Recommendations for practice include improving reporting of essential study details and increasing adherence with good practice standards. Recommendations for research methods focus on mapping out complex causal pathways for modeling, developing measures to capture broader domains of wellbeing and community outcomes, testing methods for considering equity, identifying relevant non-health sector costs and advancing methods for evidence synthesis.

Exploring the Potential of Case Formulation Within Exercise Psychology

The purpose of this article is to expand the literature on case formulation as a clinical tool for use within exercise psychology, generally and lifestyle behavior change interventions, specifically. Existing research offers limited support for the efficacy of current physical activity behavior change intervention strategies, particularly in the long-term. The present paper argues that intervention strategies need to pay greater attention to the complex and individualistic nature of exercise and health related behaviors. It has been suggested that existing intervention designs tend to conform to a medical model approach, which can at times potentially neglect the complex array of personal and situational factors that impact on human motivation and behavior. Case formulation is presented as a means of encouraging a dynamic and comprehensive approach to the development and implementation of practical interventions within the health behavior change field. The adoption of these clinical techniques may facilitate the careful consideration of variations in the development, manifestation, and maintaining mechanisms of problematic behaviors (e.g., inactivity). An overview of case formulation in its different forms is presented alongside a justification for its use within exercise psychology.

Predictors of Cancer Survivors' Receptivity to Lifestyle Behavior Change Interventions

Abstract Purpose: To assess cancer survivors' interest in lifestyle behavior change interventions, and to identify predictors of interest. Methods: Mailed surveys were sent to a stratified random sample of breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer survivors ascertained from the MD Anderson tumor registry and departmental databases. Surveys queried survivors about their diet, exercise, and smoking behaviors; symptoms; and their interest in interventions. Results: Surveys were received from 1053 cancer survivors. Roughly half of the sample were very/extremely interested in programs to help them get in shape (45%), eat a healthy diet (54%), and control weight (49%), and 20% had no interest at all. Because they were highly intercorrelated we combined interest in diet/exercise/weight control into a single interest index. Interest was related to race/ethnicity (AA and Hispanics more interested than whites), age (p = .000, younger more interested), marital status (p = .000, divorced most interested, widowed least interested), education (p = .008, college-educated less interested than those with HS degree or some college/vocational training), and gender (p = .000; women more interested). Interest was not related to time from diagnosis, and there were no differences by cancer site after controlling for gender. BMI had a small but significant correlation with interest in programs (r = .19, p = .000; the correlation was higher in women [r = .24] than men [r = .18]). Symptom severity and interference, and feelings of distress and sadness, were positively correlated to interest (r = .07–.12, p = .000–.034); relationships were stronger among men than women. Among the 78 smokers, 51% were very/extremely interested in smoking cessation, while 20% were not at all interested. Demographic and disease-related predictors were not significantly related to interest in smoking cessation, but symptom severity and interference, and feelings of sadness were positively related to interest. Conclusion: Survivors' interest in lifestyle behavior change interventions varies with demographic variables, but also with symptom distress. Experiencing symptoms after cancer diagnosis is related to higher receptivity to intervention opportunities.