Poster Presentation Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2022

Experiences of healthcare professionals promoting exercise for men with prostate cancer: a qualitative exploration (#376)

Jasmine Yee 1 2 , Ishan Narendran 1 , Renée Bultijnck 1 3 , Julia Hunter 4 , George Hruby 4 , Thomas Eade 4 , Andrew Kneebone 4 , Haryana Dhillon 1 5
  1. CeMPED, School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Campderdown, NSW, Australia
  2. Sydney School of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
  3. Department of Human Structure and Repair, Ghent University, Ghent, East Flanders, Belgium
  4. Department of Radiation Oncology, Northern Sydney Cancer Centre, St Leonards, NSW, Australia
  5. Psycho-Oncology Cooperative Research Group (PoCoG), School of Psychology, The University of Sydney, Campderdown, NSW, Australia

Aims: Exercise is effective for ameliorating treatment side effects and enhancing quality of life for men with prostate cancer receiving androgen deprivation therapy. Despite the benefits, few men engage in sufficient levels of activity. Healthcare professionals (HCPs) are ideally placed to promote exercise during interactions with men. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore radiation oncology HCPs perceptions and experiences of exercise promotion for men with prostate cancer.    

Methods: HCPs involved in the care of men with prostate cancer at the Radiation Oncology Clinic at the Northern Sydney Cancer Centre (radiation oncologists/registrars (n=7), nurses (n=2), and radiation therapists (n=8)) were enrolled. HCPs participated in semi-structured interviews (n=12) or a single focus group (n=5), exploring topics such as perceptions of exercise for men receiving ADT and experiences discussing exercise. Interviews were transcribed and analysed thematically.

Results: Seventeen HCPs (0.5-31y prostate cancer experience) participated. We identified five themes related to exercise: 1) HCP relationship with exercise; 2) perceptions and experiences with prostate cancer and treatments; 3) current practice; 4) barriers to promotion; and 5) facilitators to promotion. Subthemes related to current practice were identified: 1) exercise discussions – variability between HCP groups, with radiation oncologists and nurses discussing with most men, but radiation therapists rarely; and 2) referral pathways – many aware of programs but low rates of referral. Prostate nurses were perceived to be primarily responsible for coordinating access to exercise.

Conclusions: Conversations about exercise and referral to programs by radiation oncology HCPs are inconsistent and differ by role. While radiation therapists valued exercise as beneficial for men, they perceived exercise discussions to be beyond their role and lacked specific knowledge. Education for HCPs may increase exercise knowledge and confidence in leading discussion, increasing the likelihood of exercise promotion and referral as part of routine clinical practice.