ASPO Abstracts
Understanding attitudes toward physical activity for cancer survivors with neuropathic pain through stakeholder engagement
Category: Behavioral Science & Health Communication
Conference Year: 2022
Abstract Body:
Purpose: Physical activity (PA) may be a viable point of intervention for the management of cancer-related neuropathic pain; however, little is known about the attitudes surrounding PA participation in this population. This study shed light on such attitudes through engaging key stakeholders in the design of a PA program. Methods: Participants from three key stakeholder groups (i.e., cancer survivors with neuropathic pain, healthcare providers, community cancer support organizations) were recruited to participate in two focus group interviews. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, focus groups were changed to individual semi-structured phone interviews. Interviews centered on: (interview A) identifying attitudes toward participating in PA (survivors with neuropathic pain), recommending PA (healthcare providers), and implementing PA programs (community organizations) for cancer survivors with neuropathic pain; and (interview B) soliciting perspectives on the design of a PA program for cancer survivors with neuropathic pain. Data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Interview A: Thirteen individuals (cancer survivors n=5, healthcare providers n=6, community organizations n=2) completed interview A. Themes included: positive attitudes towards PA, neuropathy-specific barriers to PA (e.g., balance, numbness, weakness), and potential harms of PA (e.g., fall risk, symptom exacerbation, psychosocial). Further, all participants indicated a need for individualized PA programs. Cancer survivors defined "success"¬ù in a PA program to include behavioral adoption and improved function and endurance. Interview B: Six individuals returned for interview B (cancer survivor n=1, healthcare providers n=3, community organizations n=2). Participants indicated the program content was acceptable and would be of interest to cancer survivors with neuropathic pain. Suggestions for improvement involved implementation of safety measures (i.e., require a physical exam) and including additional neuropathy-specific information. Conclusions: PA programs that focus on behavioral adoption and allow individuals to incorporate personal motivations, interests, skills, and needs into the intervention may be of interest for cancer survivors with neuropathic pain.
Keywords: physical activity, neuropathic pain, cancer survivorship, intervention development