Geographical distance as an impeding factor for cancer patients' participation in a specialised exercise programme

Specialised exercise has proven beneficial for cancer patients who are therefore offered a supervised six-week exercise programme at hospitals in Denmark. This quality assurance study investigated whether the distance between home and hospital and other demographic variabilities affected patients' participation in and completion of the programme.

Data were collected on cancer patients' participation in a specialised exercise programme at the Department of Oncology, Vejle Hospital, Denmark, between January 2014 and June 2017. Data covering the same period were collected on all patients referred to the department. Demographics and information on cancer diagnosis were retrieved from the patient administrative systems. The distance by car from patients' residential postcode to hospital was measured using a map service. The potential relationship between distance to hospital and participation was investigated by univariate and multivariate regression analyses.

Travel distance had a significant impact (p less than 0.001) on participation. Similarly, gender (p = 0.001), intention of treatment (p = 0.001) and type of cancer (p = 0.001) were of significance to completion of the programme.

Travel distance tended to compromise participation, but for patients who chose to participate, travel distance did not affect completion of the programme.

none.

not relevant.