Poster Presentation Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2019

The needs and preferences of men living with metastatic prostate cancer regarding a web-based exercise prescription and education tool: A qualitative study (#169)

Holly E Evans 1 , Cynthia C Forbes 2 , Daniel A Galvão 3 , Rob U Newton 3 , Corneel Vandelanotte 4 , Suzanne Chambers 5 , Gary Wittert 6 , Lisa Jones 7 , Ganessan Kichenadasse 8 , Nicholas Brook 9 , Camille E Short 6
  1. School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
  2. Department of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
  3. Exercise Medicine Research Institute, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia
  4. Physical Activity Research Group, Central Queensland University, Rockhampton, QLD, Australia
  5. Faculty of Health, Australia University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  6. Freemasons Foundation Centre for Men’s Health, School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
  7. School of Medicine, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
  8. College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer, Bedford Park, SA, Australia
  9. Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia

Aims:

Targeted exercise-based interventions have the potential to ameliorate the sequelae resulting from metastatic prostate cancer and corresponding treatments. However, few patients have access to targeted supervised exercise. The introduction of eHealth physical activity programs may be an effective method to help improve activity levels in those unable or unwilling to attend supervised interventions. The study aimed to explore the needs, safety implications and preferences of men with metastatic prostate cancer concerning a web-based exercise prescription and education tool.

 

Methods:

Eighteen Australian men (55-83 years; M=71.5, SD=8.9) diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer participated in semi-structured interviews. Participant’s experiences and understanding of their disease, current physical activity and physician recommendations as well as acceptability of an eHealth tool were explored. Data collection finished when saturation occurred. The recorded data was transcribed verbatim, and salient themes were determined using thematic analysis. 

 

Results:

Men spoke of the necessity to continue to complete daily responsibilities and hobbies. There was a limited understanding of the benefits of exercise in prostate cancer, and less than half had their health care team discuss their physical activity levels. The majority of men were accepting of a web-based intervention for reasons of affordability, accessibility and convenience. Patients had high levels of internet usage but spoke of the need for a user-friendly design with available support. Importantly, not all men had an adequate understanding of their metastases location and extent, which has implications on safe prescription.

 

Conclusions:

Participants reported that an eHealth platform designed to increase structured exercise and overall physical activity levels was acceptable. A focus of education, tailored prescription and behaviour modification within a user-friendly platform was important as well as methods to ensure the prescription is based on accurate metastasis location and severity. This research will aid in the development of user-centred, safe programs in the future.

  1. Galvão, D. A., Taaffe, D. R., Spry, N., Cormie, P., Joseph, D., Chambers, S. K., … Newton, R. U. (2018). Exercise Preserves Physical Function in Prostate Cancer Patients with Bone Metastases. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 50(3), 393–399. https://doi.org/http://doi.org/10.1249/MSS.0000000000001454
  2. Hart, N. H., Galvão, D. A., & Newton, R. U. (2017). Exercise medicine for advanced prostate cancer. Current Opinion in Supportive and Palliative Care, 11, 247–257. https://doi.org/10.1097/spc.0000000000000276
  3. Short, C. E., Trinh, L., & James, E. L. (2019). Effective Technology-based Behaviour Change Interventions in Prostate Cancer Supportive Care: Are We There Yet? European Urology, 75(6), 959–960. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eururo.2019.02.001