Challenges in launching a community-based group walking program for adults affected by cancer

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Public Health
• Exercise Science

Background:

• Adults affected by cancer express a strong preference for physical activity (PA), particularly walking.
• Outdoor, peer-led programs are often desired by this population.
• Translating this interest into actual program participation remains a challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report on the development and recruitment outcomes of a community-based, outdoor, peer-led walking program for adults affected by cancer, named Walk it Out (WIO).
• To explore the discrepancies between literature-reported preferences for walking and actual participation in the WIO program.
• To identify interpersonal and individual-level challenges hindering program recruitment and offer insights for future PA interventions.

Main Methods:

• Development of a community-based, outdoor, peer-led walking program (Walk it Out - WIO).
• Six-month recruitment period for peer-leaders and participants.
• Qualitative reflection on recruitment challenges and program implementation barriers.

Main Results:

• The Walk it Out (WIO) program was unable to meet recruitment targets for both peer-leaders (target: 5, achieved: 0 self-identified) and participants (target: not specified, achieved: 3 recruited via peer-leaders).
• The program could not be offered due to insufficient recruitment.
• Significant challenges were encountered at both interpersonal and individual levels.

Conclusions:

• There is a notable gap between the expressed interest in walking programs among cancer survivors and their engagement in a structured, peer-led initiative.
• Further research is needed to understand how to effectively launch and promote physical activity programs to ensure participation among adults affected by cancer.
• Addressing recruitment barriers is crucial for the successful implementation of beneficial PA interventions for cancer survivors.