Tailoring physical activity maintenance strategies for cancer survivors: A study protocol for an adaptive...

Moderate-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) (i.e., aerobic and resistance exercise) is effective for improving multiple health outcomes for cancer survivors, and structured, supervised community-based exercise programs can facilitate MVPA adoption among cancer survivors. However, maintaining MVPA after these programs end can be challenging for some. The purpose of this paper is to describe the protocol of an adaptive intervention designed to enhance MVPA maintenance among cancer survivors who have recently completed a community-based exercise program.

Participants are insufficiently active cancer survivors who are ≤5 years of completing cancer treatment(s) and are enrolled or planning to enroll in one of three community-based exercise programs. Three months after completion of the program, MVPA will be measured and participants will be randomized to a 3-month, adaptive maintenance intervention based on their MVPA response (i.e., achieving exercise guidelines for cancer survivors). Outcomes are feasibility and acceptability of the maintenance intervention, and MVPA six months following completion of the initial exercise program. Outcomes will be assessed using quantitative surveys, focus groups, and objective and self-reported MVPA.

This study is expected to demonstrate the feasibility and acceptability of an adaptive intervention to enhance MVPA maintenance for cancer survivors following community-based exercise programs. Findings may identify optimal strategies for sustaining MVPA long-term, and inform the development of scalable, evidence-based stepped care approaches that can be integrated into community-based exercise programs.