Tearing down the barriers to exercise after mastectomy: a qualitative inquiry to facilitate exercise among breast cancer survivors

ObjectiveProper exercise immediately after breast cancer surgery (BCS) may prevent unnecessary physical and psychological decline resulting from the surgery; however, patients’ attitude, barriers and facilitators for exercise during this period have not been studied. Hence, this study aims to explor...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMJ open 2022-07, Vol.12 (7), p.e055157-e055157
Main Authors: Yeon, Sujin, Jeong, Ansuk, Min, Jihee, Byeon, Jiyong, Yoon, Yong Jin, Heo, Jinmoo, Lee, Chulwon, Kim, Jeeye, Park, Seho, Kim, Seung Il, Jeon, Justin Y
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Breast cancer
Breast surgery
Cancer surgery
Cancer therapies
Exercise
Interviews
Lymphedema
Medical prognosis
MENTAL HEALTH
ONCOLOGY
Patients
Physical fitness
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
Questionnaires
Sports and Exercise Medicine
SPORTS MEDICINE
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Summary:ObjectiveProper exercise immediately after breast cancer surgery (BCS) may prevent unnecessary physical and psychological decline resulting from the surgery; however, patients’ attitude, barriers and facilitators for exercise during this period have not been studied. Hence, this study aims to explore the barriers and facilitators of exercise among patients with breast cancer through multiple interviews immediately after surgery through 4 weeks after BCS.MethodsWe conducted three in-depth interviews of 33 patients with breast cancer within 1 month after BCS.ResultsWe identified 44 themes, 10 codes and 5 categories from interview results. Physical constraints and psychological resistance were identified as the barriers to exercise, while a sense of purpose and first-hand exercise experience were identified as the facilitators of exercise. By conducting the interviews over the course of 4 weeks after surgery, we monitored patterns of changes in barriers and facilitators over time. Overall, our analyses identified that professional intervention based on the time since surgery and the physical state after BCS is essential. The intervention would counteract the overwhelming psychological resistance in the early weeks by developing a sense of purpose in the later weeks.ConclusionsWe made suggestions for future research and exercise intervention programmes that can benefit breast cancer survivors based on the categories, codes and themes identified in this study.
ISSN:2044-6055
2044-6055
DOI:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-055157