Community-based interventions designed to optimize health behaviors among cancer survivors: an integrative systematic...

The purpose of this review was to synthesize the evidence on community-based health behavior optimization interventions (physical activity, nutrition, weight management) with a focus on cancer survivors at risk for poor health outcomes.

This integrative review followed the methods and protocol outlined by the Joanna Briggs Institute Methods Manual for systematic reviews and was reported using PRISMA-Scr. Four databases, namely, PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, SportDiscus, were searched in March 2021 to identify articles addressing health behaviors among cancer survivors.

The review included 43 articles describing unique interventions developed through community-based participatory research (CBPR). The majority of community-based interventions were designed to optimize exercise/physical activity (76.7%) exclusively or in combination with nutrition. Non-Hispanic White persons constituted most participants. Most interventions took place as a part of an established community program and recruited from existing community programs to evaluate intervention effects on specific health outcomes. Of the interventions, 88.3% improved at least one outcome measurement.

The current studies have built on the strengths and resources of the community using existing programs. There was a lack of diversity in socioeconomic status and racial/ethnic background among participants of most interventions and inputs from partners such as cancer survivors, community, and healthcare organizations. Multiple health behavior interventions with longitudinal studies are needed for racial/ethnic minoritized cancer survivors. Future research should focus on achieving mutual benefits through iterative processes to develop sustainable community/research partnerships, ensuring long-term commitment, and disseminating knowledge gained from CBPR to and by all involved partners to improve health behaviors.