Search

Objective This study aimed to qualitatively explore how partner support for health behaviours is perceived, received, and utilised in people living with and beyond cancer (LWBC). Methods Semi-structured audio interviews were conducted with 24 participants, 15 men and nine women, living with and beyond breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer. Inductive and deductive Thematic Analysis was used to analyse the data. Results Three key themes with six subthemes were identified relating to partner support for health behaviours: (1) Interdependence (Reciprocity, Overt Control, Influence & Motivation) (2) Concordance (Shared Attitudes & Health Beliefs, Shared Health Behaviour) and (3) Communal Coping (Communal Orientation towards Health and Decision Making, Co-operative Action in Health Behaviour). Conclusions Partner support plays a unique and significant role in the health behaviours of people LWBC. Partners play a collaborative role in managing health and facilitating health behaviours, while the high level of concordance in couples may represent a potential barrier to change via the reinforcement of maladaptive health beliefs and behaviours. Implications for Cancer Survivors Overall, findings demonstrate that partners should be considered and included where possible when designing future behaviour change interventions for people LWBC.

Purpose The Myeloma: Advancing Survival Cancer Outcomes Trial (MASCOT) tested the impact of a supervised exercise programme on fatigue, clinical, and patient-reported outcomes in multiple myeloma [MM] patients. The current study explored MM patients’ experiences of the programme to guide future interventions. Methods Purposive sampling was used to recruit stable MM patients participating in MASCOT. Semi-structured, face-to-face interviews were conducted, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using thematic analysis. Results Six themes were identified. Key drivers for participation in MASCOT were “Altruism and extended cancer care”; participants wanted to give something back and assist in improving post-treatment care for MM patients, especially as after treatment “Barriers to being physically active” were a fear of damage and lack of health professional guidance. “Influences fostering change within the intervention” included physiotherapy supervision and tailored exercises, which gave participants confidence to push themselves in a safe environment and broke down misconceptions about their body. “Social support”, from both family and peers in the programme, promoted motivation and adherence. Participants expressed concerns about “Maintaining things going forward” but had identified mechanisms to aid continuation. “Physical and mental benefits” of the programme were highlighted; participants were able to do things they couldn’t before and described feeling free from the constraints of MM. Conclusions A post-treatment exercise intervention for MM patients was a positive experience, which enhanced participants’ physical and psychological wellbeing. Tailored gym and home-based exercises, a specialist cancer physiotherapist, and sustained support were perceived to be important for success. Implications for cancer survivors Exercise support for MM patients, ideally with physiotherapist supervision, should be incorporated into survivorship care to qualitatively improve patients’ quality of life, self-efficacy, and mental wellbeing.

Purpose Quality of life can be negatively impacted by the formation of a stoma and is influenced by a number of factors. Research to date treats people with a stoma as a homogenous group based on their quality of life. We attempted to identify subgroups based upon self-reported quality of life and explored variables associated with group membership. Methods The present study is a secondary analysis of a cross-sectional sample of 1419 people with a stoma. Participants completed validated questionnaires for quality of life, physical activity and clinical and demographic characteristics. Latent profile analysis was used to identify the optimal number of subgroups (profiles) and multinomial regression modelling was conducted to identify variables associated with profile membership. Results The analysis revealed 4 distinct profiles of people with a stoma: ‘consistently good quality of life’ [N = 891 (62.8%)], ‘some quality of life concerns’ [N = 184 (13.0%)], ‘low quality of life’ [N = 181 (12.8%)] and ‘financial concerns’ [N = 163 (11.5%)]. Modelling revealed that people with a recent stoma (formed Conclusion This study was the first to identify latent profiles within this population and assess whether certain variables are associated with membership. Future research should build upon this to identify additional variables associated with these profiles, which can help to provide the basis for targeting and tailoring future interventions to specific subgroups of people with a stoma.

Abigail E Derbyshire,1 Michelle L MacKintosh,1 Christina M Pritchard,1 Arya Pontula,2 Basil J Ammori,3,4 Akheel A Syed,4,5 Rebecca J Beeken,6 Emma J Crosbie1,2 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK; 2Division of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK; 3Department of Surgery, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Salford, UK; 4Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Gastroenterology, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK; 5Department of Obesity Medicine, Diabetes & Endocrinology, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Salford, UK; 6Leeds Institute of Health Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UKCorrespondence: Emma J CrosbieDivision of Cancer Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK, Tel +44 161 701 6942, Email emma.crosbie@manchester.ac.ukIntroduction: Endometrial cancer rates are rising in parallel with the global obesity epidemic. Our aim was to assess the willingness of women at greatest risk of obesity-related endometrial cancer to engage with risk-reducing strategies and establish perceived barriers that may preclude their participation in a randomized controlled trial of primary endometrial cancer prevention.Materials and Methods: Women attending gynecology, obesity and sleep apnea clinics in Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre-affiliated hospitals with obesity classes II (BMI 35– 39.9kg/m2) and III (BMI ≥ 40kg/m2) were invited to participate in a cross-sectional survey. We asked women about their perceived risk, knowledge of risk factors and willingness to engage with endometrial cancer risk-reducing interventions.Results: Seventy-four women with a median age of 51 years (range 22– 73) and BMI of 47kg/m2 (range 34– 81) took part in the study. Two-thirds (65.6%) knew that obesity was a risk factor for endometrial cancer but few were able to recall other major risk factors. Just over half (53.5%) perceived their risk of developing endometrial cancer to be higher than average. Women were prepared to lose weight (94%), eat healthily (91%), exercise more (87%), take a pill every day (74%) or receive an intra-uterine device (49%) for primary endometrial cancer prevention. Perceived barriers included cost, forgetting, willpower, finding time, physical fitness, social anxiety, possible side effects and previous bad experiences.Conclusion: Women at highest risk of obesity-related endometrial cancer may not always appreciate their susceptibility. However, willingness to engage in risk-reducing strategies suggests recruitment to a randomized controlled trial for primary endometrial cancer prevention could be feasible.Keywords: endometrial cancer, obesity, risk reducing interventions, weight loss, exercise, chemoprevention, levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system, metformin

Purpose People living with and beyond cancer (LWBC) are advised to achieve a body mass index (BMI) within the healthy range (≥ 18.5 and Methods Adults diagnosed with breast, prostate, or colorectal cancer were recruited through National Health Service sites in Essex and London. Participants (N = 5835) completed the ‘Health and Lifestyle After Cancer’ survey, which included a question on perceived need to change weight. Associations between perceived need for weight change and BMI, and perceived need for weight change and health and demographic variables, were analyzed using chi-square tests and logistic regression, respectively. Results The proportion of participants perceiving a need to lose weight differed according to BMI category: healthy weight (23%), overweight (64%), obese (85%) (P Conclusions Perceived need to lose weight is prevalent among people LWBC with obesity and overweight. This group may be interested in weight management support. Demographic and health factors were associated with having obesity or overweight but not perceiving a need to lose weight. Implications for cancer survivors Weight loss interventions for people LWBC are needed. A subset of people LWBC with overweight and obesity may need additional information or motivators to engage with weight management.

Purpose The present work investigated dietary changes among individuals living with and beyond cancer (LWBC) from before to during the pandemic. To identify those at greatest risk of unhealthy changes, it was further examined whether patterns varied with sociodemographic, health-related, and COVID-19-related characteristics. Methods This longitudinal cohort study analysed data from 716 individuals LWBC participating in the Advancing Survivorship Cancer Outcomes Trial (ASCOT). Using data provided before and during the pandemic, changes in fruit and vegetable, snack, and alcohol intake were tested using mixed-effect regression models. Results Fruit and vegetable (95%CI:-0.30;-0.04), and alcohol consumption (95%CI:-1.25;-0.31) decreased, whilst snacking increased (95%CI:0.19;0.53). Women and individuals with limited social contact were more likely to reduce fruit and vegetable intake during the pandemic. Women and individuals with poorer sleep quality, limited social contact, shielding requirements, and without higher education were more likely to increase snacking during the pandemic. Individuals with poorer sleep quality, greater anxiety and depression levels, and regular social contact were more likely to decrease alcohol consumption during the pandemic. Conclusions Findings suggest unhealthy dietary changes for fruit, vegetable, and snack intake but healthy changes for alcohol consumption in response to the pandemic. These changes appear to differ across various characteristics, suggesting the pandemic has not equally impacted everyone. Findings highlight the need for targeted post-COVID strategies to support individuals LWBC most adversely affected by the pandemic, including women and socially isolated individuals. This encourages resources to be prioritised amongst these at-risk groups to prevent further negative impact of the pandemic.

Objective Comorbidity is associated with adverse outcomes for all lung cancer patients, but its burden is less understood in the context of screening. This review synthesises the prevalence of comorbidities among lung cancer screening (LCS) candidates and summarises the clinical recommendations for screening comorbid individuals. Methods We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, EBM Reviews, and CINAHL databases from January 1990 to February 2021. We included LCS studies that reported a prevalence of comorbidity, as a prevalence of a particular condition, or as a summary score. We also summarised LCS clinical guidelines that addressed comorbidity or frailty for LCS as a secondary objective for this review. Meta-analysis was used with inverse-variance weights obtained from a random-effects model to estimate the prevalence of selected comorbidities. Results We included 69 studies in the review; seven reported comorbidity summary scores, two reported performance status, 48 reported individual comorbidities, and 12 were clinical guideline papers. The meta-analysis of individual comorbidities resulted in an estimated prevalence of 35.2% for hypertension, 23.5% for history of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (10.7% for severe COPD), 16.6% for ischaemic heart disease (IHD), 13.1% for peripheral vascular disease (PVD), 12.9% for asthma, 12.5% for diabetes, 4.5% for bronchiectasis, 2.2% for stroke, and 0.5% for pulmonary fibrosis. Conclusions Comorbidities were highly prevalent in LCS populations and likely to be more prevalent than in other cancer screening programmes. Further research on the burden of comorbid disease and its impact on screening uptake and outcomes is needed. Identifying individuals with frailty and comorbidities who might not benefit from screening should become a priority in LCS research.

PurposeSocial support facilitated healthy behaviours in people living with and beyond cancer (LWBC) before the COVID-19 pandemic. Little is known about how social support impacted their health behaviours during the pandemic when social restrictions were imposed. The aim of this study was to qualitatively explore how social support impacted the health behaviours of people LWBC during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted via telephone with 24 adults living with and beyond breast, prostate and colorectal cancer. Inductive and deductive framework analysis was used to analyse the data. ResultsSix themes developed. These were 1) Companionship and accountability as motivators for physical activity, 2) Familial social influence increasing alcohol consumption, 3) Importance of friends, communities and government in maintenance of food security, 4) Partner support in food practices, 5) Informational support as important for behaviour change, and 6) Validation of health behaviours from immediate social networks. ConclusionThis study found that companionship, social influence, instrumental support, informational support and validation impacted the health behaviours of people LWBC during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interventions for people LWBC could recommend co-participation in exercise with friends and family; promote the formation of collaborative implementation intentions with family to reduce alcohol consumption; and encourage supportive communication between partners about health behaviours. These interventions would be useful during pandemics and at other times. Government policies to help support clinically extremely vulnerable groups of people LWBC during pandemics should focus on providing access to healthier foods.

Background There are multiple health benefits from participating in physical activity after a cancer diagnosis, but many people living with and beyond cancer (LWBC) are not meeting physical activity guidelines. App-based interventions offer a promising platform for intervention delivery. This trial aims to pilot a theory-driven, app-based intervention that promotes brisk walking among people living with and beyond cancer. The primary aim is to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of study procedures before conducting a larger randomised controlled trial (RCT). Methods This is an individually randomised, two-armed pilot RCT. Patients with localised or metastatic breast, prostate, or colorectal cancer, who are aged 16 years or over, will be recruited from a single hospital site in South Yorkshire in the UK. The intervention includes an app designed to encourage brisk walking (Active 10) supplemented with habit-based behavioural support in the form of two brief telephone/video calls, an information leaflet, and walking planners. The primary outcomes will be feasibility and acceptability of the study procedures. Demographic and medical characteristics will be collected at baseline, through self-report and hospital records. Secondary outcomes for the pilot (assessed at 0 and 3 months) will be accelerometer measured and self-reported physical activity, body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference, and patient-reported outcomes of quality of life, fatigue, sleep, anxiety, depression, self-efficacy, and habit strength for walking. Qualitative interviews will explore experiences of participating or reasons for declining to participate. Parameters for the intended primary outcome measure (accelerometer measured average daily minutes of brisk walking (≥ 100 steps/min)) will inform a sample size calculation for the future RCT and a preliminary economic evaluation will be conducted. Discussion This pilot study will inform the design of a larger RCT to investigate the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of this intervention in people LWBC. Trial registration ISRCTN registry, ISRCTN18063498. Registered 16 April 2021.

Purpose Social support facilitated healthy behaviours in people living with and beyond cancer (LWBC) before the COVID-19 pandemic. Little is known about how social support impacted their health behaviours during the pandemic when social restrictions were imposed. The aim of this study was to qualitatively explore how social support was perceived to impact the health behaviours of people LWBC during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted via telephone with 24 adults living with and beyond breast, prostate and colorectal cancer. Inductive and deductive framework analysis was used to analyse the data. Results Five themes developed. These were (1) Companionship and accountability as motivators for physical activity, (2) Social influences on alcohol consumption, (3) Instrumental support in food practices, (4) Informational support as important for behaviour change and (5) Validation of health behaviours from immediate social networks. Conclusion This study described how companionship, social influence, instrumental support, informational support and validation were perceived to impact the health behaviours of people LWBC during the COVID-19 pandemic. Interventions for people LWBC could recommend co-participation in exercise with friends and family; promote the formation of collaborative implementation intentions with family to reduce alcohol consumption; and encourage supportive communication between partners about health behaviours. These interventions would be useful during pandemics and at other times. Government policies to help support clinically extremely vulnerable groups of people LWBC during pandemics should focus on providing access to healthier foods.

Background Dietary supplements (DSs) are not recommended for the prevention of cancer recurrence. Although DS use is common in individuals living with and beyond cancer, its associations with beliefs about reduced cancer recurrence risk and demographic and health behaviors are unclear. Methods Adults (18 years old or older) who had been diagnosed with breast, prostate, or colorectal cancer were recruited through National Health Service sites in Essex and London. Participants completed a mailed survey and telephone or online 24-hour dietary recalls (MyFood24). Supplement use was collected during the dietary recalls. Associations between DS use and demographics, health behaviors, and beliefs about DSs and cancer were explored. Results Nineteen percent of 1049 individuals believed that DSs were important for the reduction of cancer recurrence risk, and 40% of individuals reported DS use. DS use was positively associated with being female (odds ratio [OR], 2.48; confidence interval [CI], 1.72-3.56), meeting 5-a-day fruit and vegetable recommendations (OR, 1.36; CI, 1.02-1.82), and believing that DSs were important for reducing cancer recurrence risk (OR, 3.13; CI, 2.35-4.18). DS use was negatively associated with having obesity (OR, 0.58; CI, 0.38-0.87). The most commonly taken DSs overall were fish oils (taken by 13%). Calcium with or without vitamin D was the most common DS taken by individuals with breast cancer (15%). Conclusions DS use by individuals living with and beyond cancer is associated with demographic factors and health behaviors. A belief that DSs reduce the risk of cancer recurrence is common and positively associated with DS use. There is a need for health care professionals to provide advice about DS use and cancer recurrence risk.

Adults with severe mental ill health may have specific attitudes toward physical activity. To inform intervention development, we conducted a survey to assess the physical activity patterns, preferences, barriers, and motivations of adults with severe mental ill health living in the community. Data were summarised using descriptive statistics, and logistic regressions were used to explore relationships between physical activity status and participant characteristics. Five-hundred and twenty-nine participants (58% male, mean age 49.3 years) completed the survey. Large numbers were insufficiently active and excessively sedentary. Self-reported levels of physical activity below that recommended in national guidelines were associated with professional inactivity, consumption of fewer than five portions of fruit and vegetables per day, older age, and poor mental health. Participants indicated a preference for low-intensity activities and physical activity that they can do on their own, at their own time and pace, and close to home. The most commonly endorsed source of support was social support from family and friends. Common motivations included improving mental health, physical fitness, and energy levels. However, poor mental and physical health and being too tired were also common barriers. These findings can inform the development of physical activity interventions for this group of people.