Nurses' perspectives on physical activity promotion in cancer patients: A qualitative research

The present study aimed to qualitatively examine the perspectives of nurses about physical activity in cancer patients.

A purposive sample of nurses was recruited by email. Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior, focus group interviews were conducted. The discussions were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic analysis.

Fourteen nurses working in different wards of Verona Hospital participated in the study. Transcripts were categorized according to the Theory of the Planned Behavior in the following themes: attitude, subjective norms, perceived control, and intention. Nurses identified a series of psycho-physical benefits deriving from physical activity for cancer patients. In contrast, the main risk of promoting an active lifestyle was the boomerang effect of making the patients aware of their physical deconditioning. Nurses' colleagues seemed not supportive in the physical activity promotion in cancer, whereas cancer patients and their caregivers could gladly accept the nurse counseling about performing physical activity. Different barriers, such as lack of time, lack of exercise specialists to consult, and the idea that it is a topic out of a nurse's competence, may hamper the physical activity promotion. A teamwork approach, availability of specific tools, and targeted interventions were found important features facilitating the nurse counseling. The nurses' intention to promote physical activity was not so strong and appeared to be influenced by lack of knowledge about physical activity.

Educational sessions about physical activity guidelines for cancer patients are required to enhance nurses' confidence and intention towards physical activity promotion.