Implementing exercise in cancer care: study protocol to evaluate a community-based exercise program for people with...

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Exercise Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Clinical research confirms exercise benefits cancer patients by reducing treatment side effects and enhancing wellbeing.
• Major oncology organizations advocate for integrating exercise into cancer care, yet practical implementation strategies are scarce.
• This paper details the implementation and evaluation protocol for a community-based exercise program tailored for individuals with cancer.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the implementation of the Life Now Exercise program, a community-based intervention for people with cancer.
• To outline the protocol for evaluating the program's uptake, safety, adherence, and effectiveness, including cost-effectiveness.
• To provide a framework for developing feasible, generalizable, and sustainable exercise-based supportive care services in oncology.

Main Methods:

• The Life Now Exercise program is a 3-month, twice-weekly, group-based exercise intervention delivered in community clinics by trained exercise physiologists.
• The program is accessible to individuals with any cancer diagnosis, whether currently undergoing treatment or within two years post-treatment.
• Program evaluation includes assessing uptake, safety, adherence, and effectiveness at program completion and a 6-month follow-up.

Main Results:

• The Life Now Exercise program was implemented to bridge the gap between research and practice in exercise oncology.
• The program's framework provides insights into developing practical and sustainable supportive care services.
• Evaluation metrics will inform the program's impact on patient wellbeing and adherence to exercise guidelines.

Conclusions:

• The Life Now Exercise program successfully provides access to evidence-based exercise for cancer patients.
• The implementation and evaluation model offers a blueprint for creating effective community-based cancer support services.
• Community-based, tailored exercise programs are crucial for adhering to international guidelines for high-quality cancer care.