Experiences participating in a telehealth exercise program among older adults with cancer: a qualitative study

Emily R Dunston; Alec Malouf; Leslie W Podlog; Maria Newton; Yang Bai; Sonal Oza; Adriana M Coletta

doi:10.1007/s11764-024-01564-9

Experiences participating in a telehealth exercise program among older adults with cancer: a qualitative study

J Cancer Surviv. 2024 Mar 16. doi: 10.1007/s11764-024-01564-9. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Emily R Dunston¹, Alec Malouf¹, Leslie W Podlog^{2

3}, Maria Newton¹, Yang Bai¹, Sonal Oza⁴, Adriana M Coletta^{5

6}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Health and Kinesiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
² Université de Montréal, School of Kinesiology and Physical Activity Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
³ CHU Sainte-Justine Research Center, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
⁴ Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
⁵ Department of Health and Kinesiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA. Adriana.Coletta@hci.utah.edu.
⁶ The Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA. Adriana.Coletta@hci.utah.edu.

PMID: 38492170
DOI: 10.1007/s11764-024-01564-9

Abstract

Purpose: Telehealth delivery of exercise programs has rapidly increased in recent years; yet, little is known regarding older cancer survivors' (OCS) experiences participating in telehealth exercise. The purpose of this study was to determine OCS barriers and facilitators to participation in telehealth-delivered exercise.

Methods: OCS who participated in a 12-week, one-on-one telehealth exercise program were recruited to participate in one of three focus groups. Focus groups were conducted virtually using a semi-structured interview guide. Focus groups were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed utilizing thematic analysis with Atlas.ti.

Results: Fourteen OCS (age range 65-79 years) participated in the focus groups, five (35.7%) of which had not completed a telehealth follow-up assessment. The most common cancer type was breast (n = 6, 42.9%), and all cancer stages were represented. Three overall themes were identified: having adequate space to exercise, meeting OCS physical and psychosocial needs, and OCS learning throughout the exercise program. Within these themes, five facilitators and two barriers were identified. Facilitators included the individualization of the exercise program, no travel, accountability, learning to exercise, and support from staff and family. The barriers identified were having limited space to exercise and a learning curve with technology.

Conclusion: OCS viewed telehealth exercise positively. Identified barriers aligned with those in younger cancer survivors (≥18 years), indicating that OCS are able to engage with telehealth exercise programs alongside their younger counterparts.

Implications for cancer survivors: Telehealth exercise mitigates exercise barriers in OCS and should be used as a strategy to support exercise participation among cancer survivors, regardless of age.

Keywords: Barriers; Digital health; Facilitators; Gerontology; Physical activity; Telerehabilitation.