The importance of cancer patients’ functional recollections to explore the acceptability of an isometric-resistance exercise intervention: a qualitative study

Background and Aims Although it has been widely recognised the potential of physical activity to help cancer patients’ preparation for and recovery from surgery, there is little consideration of patient reflections and recovery experiences to help shape adherence to exercise programmes. The aim was to explore the acceptability of our newly proposed isometric exercise programme in a large general hospital trust in England providing specialist cancer care by using patient recollections of illness and therapy prior to undertaking a randomised controlled trial. Methods Four Focus groups (FGs) were conducted with cancer survivors with an explicit focus on patient identity, functional capacity, physical strength, exercise advice, types of activities as well as the timing of our exercise programme and its suitability. Thematic framework analysis was used with NVivo 11. Results FG data was collected in January 2016. Thirteen patients participated, ten were male and three were female with participants’ ages ranging from 39 to 77. Data saturation was achieved when no new information had been generated reaching ‘information redundancy’. Participants reflected upon their post-surgery recovery experiences on the appropriateness and suitability of the proposed intervention, what they thought about its delivery and format, and with hindsight what the psychological enablers and barriers would be to participation. Conclusion Based upon the subjective recollections and recovery experiences of cancer survivors, isometric-resistance exercise interventions tailored to individuals with abdominal cancer has the potential to be acceptable for perioperative patients to help increase their physical activity and can also help with emotional and psychological recovery