Poster Presentation Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2024

A general practice toolkit to promote physical activity among people living with cancer (#215)

Renae A Lawrence 1 , Nicola W Burton 2 3 4 , Kerry Uebel 1 , Sameera Ansari 5 6 , Morgan Farley 1 , Sonia Maroff 7 , Joel Rhee 1 , Kylie Vuong 5 8
  1. School of Clinical Medicine , UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, Australia
  2. School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt, QLD, Australia
  3. Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
  4. Centre for Mental Health, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt, QLD, Australia
  5. School of Population Health, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, NSW, Australia
  6. Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University , Gold Coast, QLD, Australia
  7. Consumer Investigator, Sydney
  8. School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Southport, QLD, Australia

Background

Physical activity is an important strategy to reduce the risk of cancer recurrence, cancer-specific and all-cause mortality, and disease- and treatment- related side effects. Physical activity also promotes physical and mental wellbeing. Despite established benefits, most patients don’t receive physical activity recommendations or support, or meet the exercise oncology guidelines. Barriers to general practice staff promoting physical activity to cancer survivors include limited knowledge and access to resources. There is a need to build capacity in general practice to support cancer survivors to engage in and maintain physical activity.

 

Aims

This pilot project aims to develop, implement and evaluate the acceptability, feasibility, and utility of a general practice toolkit to assist general practitioners (GPs) and practice nurses (PNs) to promote physical activity among cancer survivors.

 

Methods

The toolkit comprises information and resources related to exercise benefits, recommendations, tips and options for GPs and PNs to promote physical activity to cancer survivors. We will recruit 15 GPs and PNs across general practices based in NSW and Queensland, a logistic maximum given available funding while still adequate to demonstrate intervention efficacy in a pilot study. Participants will be provided with the toolkit for a 3-month period. Evaluation will use a mixed-methods approach including pre- and post-intervention surveys and a semi-structured interview. Survey data on socio-demographics, frequency of use, acceptability, feasibility, and utility will be analysed using descriptive statistics and changes in practice, knowledge and attitudes will be analysed using t tests and ANOVA. Interviews will be transcribed verbatim prior to deductive thematic analysis.

 

Results

We plan to begin data collection from August 2024.

 

Conclusions

This research will provide information on a pragmatic condition and behaviour specific resource to build capacity among GPs and PNs and address an area of need within cancer survivorship. The research findings will inform future implementation trials.