Determinants and Factors of Physical Activity After Oncology Treatments (DEFACTO) in Metropolitan France: Protocol of a Mixed Methods Study and Intervention.

BACKGROUND: While the scientific community widely recognizes the benefits of physical activity (PA) in oncology supportive care, cancer survivors who have undergone chemo- or radio-immunotherapy treatments struggle to meet PA recommendations. This underscores the importance of identifying factors influencing active lifestyle adoption and maintenance and proposing a multilevel model (micro-, meso-, and macrolevel) to better understand facilitators and barriers. Currently, no socioecological model explains an active lifestyle in the posttreatment phase of breast, colorectal, prostate, and lung cancers. OBJECTIVE: The objective is to identify factors influencing an active lifestyle in cancer survivorship and assess the feasibility of an individualized program targeting an active lifestyle. The objectives will be addressed in 3 stages. Stage 1 aims to elucidate factors associated with the active lifestyle of cancer survivors. Stage 2 involves developing an explanatory model based on previously identified factors to create a tailored health education program for an active lifestyle after oncology treatments. Stage 3 aims to evaluate the feasibility and potential effects of this personalized health education program after its national implementation. METHODS: First, the exploration of factors influencing PA (stage 1) will be based on a mixed methods approach, using an explanatory sequential design and multilevel analysis. The quantitative phase involves completing a questionnaire from a socioecological perspective. Subsequently, a subset of respondents will engage in semistructured interviews to aid in interpreting the quantitative results. This phase aims to construct a model of the factors influencing an active lifestyle and develop an individualized 12-week program based on our earlier findings (stage 2). In stage 3, we will implement our multicenter, multimodal program for 150 physically inactive and sedentary cancer survivors across metropolitan France. Program feasibility will be evaluated. Measured PA level by connected device and multidimensional variables such as declared PA and sedentary behaviors, PA readiness, motivation, PA preferences, PA knowledge and skills, and barriers and facilitators will be assessed before and during the program and 52 weeks afterward. RESULTS: The institutional review board approved the mixed methods study (phase 1) in April 2020, and the intervention (phase 3) was approved in March 2022. Recruitment and data collection commenced in April 2022, with intervention implementation concluded in May 2023. Data collection and full analysis are expected to be finalized by July 2024. CONCLUSIONS: The Determinants and Factors of Physical Activity After Oncology Treatments (DEFACTO) study seeks to enhance our understanding, within our socioecological model, of factors influencing an active lifestyle among cancer survivors and to assess whether a tailored intervention based on this model can support an active lifestyle. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05354882; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05354882. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): DERR1-10.2196/52274.

Determinants and factors of physical activity and sedentary behaviors among post-treatment breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancer survivors living in France: Results from the DEFACTO study first phase.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the facilitators and barriers to adopting an active lifestyle among post-treatment cancer survivors in France. METHODS: Breast, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancer survivors were recruited. Participants completed a questionnaire covering sociodemographic and clinical factors, physical activity (PA) experiences, variables from the Transtheoretical model, types of motivation, knowledge of PA benefits, barriers to PA, and quality of life. We categorized participants into 4 profiles combining PA level and sedentary behaviors. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-five participants were included. Ordinal logistic regression revealed that the active lifestyle of cancer survivors is influenced by their professional situation (OR, 3.99; 95%CI, 1.76-9.10 and OR, 3.14; 95%CI, 1.45-6.77), the use of self-liberation (OR, 0.41; 95%CI, 0.20-0.82), helping relationships processes of change (OR, 2.45; 95%CI, 1.20-5.00), and quality of life (OR, 1.11; 95%CI, 1.04-1.18). CONCLUSIONS: Identifying the factors associated with PA and sedentary behavior among cancer survivors in France will facilitate the adaptation of programs according to a whole-person approach. Semi-structured interviews will further enhance insights in this mixed-methods study. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Interventions aimed at promoting an active lifestyle among cancer survivors should be customized based on professional situation, the utilization of experiential behavior change processes, and perceived quality of life.

[Barriers and facilitators to physical activity in oncology in Seine-Saint-Denis: A qualitative study using the socio-ecological approach]. / Barrières et facilitateurs à l'activité physique en oncologie en Seine-Saint-Denis : étude qualitative selon l'approche socio-écologique.

INTRODUCTION: Despite the undeniable benefits of physical activity during and beyond cancer treatments, patients do not always undertake and/or maintain it. The aim of the study is to identify, describe and understand the barriers and facilitators of physical activity practice among adults arriving at the end of treatment for solid cancer, in precarious situations, living in Seine-Saint-Denis. METHODS: The study was conducted using a descriptive qualitative phenomenological method involving semi-directed interviews with 23 participants during and beyond cancer. RESULTS: Multiple-level factors (micro, meso, macro) are involved in active behavior of patients. Three main facilitators were identified: perceived benefit, social support, and urban planning. Three barriers are identified: (1) physical and psychological disorders whether or not related to cancer and its treatment, (2) precariousness, organizational constraints, unfavorable social environment, (3) lack of coordination, lack of accurate and appropriate information, lack of realistic referral to physical activity offers. DISCUSSION: A diversity of representations, combinations of factors, and experiences are described. Getting people with cancer to engage in and maintain long-term physical activity is a complex task, requiring multidisciplinary action on all socio-ecological factors.