Exercise barriers and facilitators during hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: a qualitative study

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Transplantation Medicine
• Exercise Science

Background:

• Exercise offers significant benefits for patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT).
• Patient motivation and adherence to exercise programs during HSCT remain a significant challenge.
• Understanding patient-reported barriers and facilitators is crucial for optimizing exercise interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the barriers and facilitators of exercise participation in patients undergoing HSCT.
• To identify factors influencing adherence to a daily, unsupervised exercise program during HSCT treatment.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive qualitative study involving six participants undergoing HSCT.
• Semi-structured interviews were conducted with each participant during a 6-week unsupervised exercise program.
• Analysis focused on identifying perceived barriers and facilitators to exercise.

Main Results:

• Exercise compliance ranged from 12% to 79% among the six participants.
• Identified barriers included physical (nausea, fatigue) and psychological (anxiety, isolation) symptoms, as well as negative environmental factors.
• Facilitators included willpower, simple exercises, clear explanations from healthcare providers, and support from exercise specialists.

Conclusions:

• Exercise participation during HSCT is influenced by a complex interplay of patient-specific, environmental, and programmatic factors.
• Supervised exercise, strong recommendations from hematologists, clear communication of benefits, and support from exercise specialists are likely to enhance adherence.
• Addressing identified barriers and leveraging facilitators can improve exercise engagement in HSCT patients.