Clinical and Demographic Factors Associated With Follow-Up in a Hospital-Based Exercise Oncology Program.

Area of Science:

• Exercise Oncology
• Cancer Rehabilitation
• Public Health

Background:

• Regular exercise offers significant benefits for cancer survivors, yet adherence to guidelines remains low, with nearly 60% not meeting recommendations.
• Hospital-based exercise oncology programs are preferred by survivors but often face low follow-up rates.
• Follow-up assessments are crucial for monitoring progress, adjusting exercise prescriptions, and validating program effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify clinical and demographic factors associated with non-attendance at 12-week follow-up assessments within a hospital-based exercise oncology program.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from 849 cancer survivors participating in the Personal Optimism with Exercise Recovery (POWER) program between 2016 and 2019.
• Logistic regression was employed to determine factors associated with failure to attend the 12-week follow-up assessment.

Main Results:

• Multiple myeloma survivors and males were more likely to miss follow-up, while endometrial cancer survivors were less likely.
• Increased travel time, distance, immunotherapy use, higher waist circumference, and overweight status were associated with higher non-attendance rates.
• Higher baseline quality of life and peak oxygen consumption were linked to increased likelihood of attending the 12-week assessment.

Conclusions:

• Both clinical and demographic factors significantly influence attendance at 12-week follow-up assessments in hospital-based exercise oncology programs.
• Understanding these factors is essential for developing targeted interventions to enhance follow-up rates.
• Improving follow-up attendance can optimize exercise support and outcomes for cancer survivors.