Physical activity promotion among oncology nurses

Area of Science:

• Oncology Nursing
• Cancer Patient Care
• Physical Activity Promotion

Background:

• Oncology nurses play a key role in guiding cancer patients on physical activity.
• Understanding nurses' practices and perceptions is crucial for enhancing patient care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate physical activity promotion strategies used by oncology nurses.
• To explore nurses' views on the benefits of physical activity for cancer patients.
• To identify barriers oncology nurses encounter when promoting physical activity.

Main Methods:

• A web-based survey was distributed to a random sample of 2,000 oncology nurses across the United States.
• Eligibility required nurses to be actively involved in patient care.
• Data were collected from 274 participating oncology nurses.

Main Results:

• A majority of nurses (74.9%) inquired about physical activity during patient visits.
• Physical activity recommendations were provided to 65.7% of on-treatment and 66.9% of post-treatment patients.
• Key barriers included "lack of time" and "patients are not interested," while perceived benefits were generally positive, except for "reducing risk of recurrence."

Conclusions:

• Oncology nurses frequently address physical activity but may not consistently provide recommendations.
• Barriers and perceived benefits, particularly uncertainty about safe and appropriate recommendations, significantly influence physical activity promotion.
• Targeted education for oncology nurses on physical activity benefits for survival and specific recommendations is warranted.