Evaluating the attitudes of individuals with a history of cancer towards exercise using the transtheoretical model
Sabriye Ercan1
, Ahsen Oğul2, Esma Arslan1, Murat Koçer3, Ferdi Başkurt4, Cem Çetin1
1Sports Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Süleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey
2Sports Medicine Section, Gazi Yaşargil Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Diyarbakır, Turkey
3Department of Medical Oncology, Antalya Training and Research Hospital, University of Health Sciences, Antalya, Turkey
4Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Süleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey
Keywords: Cancer, exercise, physical activity
Abstract
Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the attitudes and demands about exercise of individuals with a medical history of cancer.
Materials and Methods: Regardless of the type of cancer, individuals with a history of cancer were included in the study. The sociodemographic characteristics of the participants, smoking, comorbid diseases, their knowledge of cancer, and about exercise habits and demands were questioned with a questionnaire prepared by the researchers.
Results: A total of 131 participants (61.1% female, 38.9% male; average age 51.8±11.3 years) were included in the study. Average time elapsed since their diagnosis of cancer was 46.0±48.7 months. About 26.7% of the participants reported that they had been doing regular physical activity in the past. Physical activity level was determined as 796.9±944.5 MET/week. According to the stage of exercise behaviour change questionnaire, it was determined that the individuals participating in the study were at precontemplation (29.0%), contemplation (9.9%), preparation (17.6%), action (19.1%), and maintenance (24.4%) stages. Most participants (67.9%) wanted to get information about physical activity/exercise. Participants stated that they would request physicians (46.7%), physiotherapists (22.2%), and physicians and physiotherapists jointly (11.1%) as a source of information. They most frequently requested to receive information in a face-to-face environment. The most common exercise type was walking (43.5%). It was found that 32.8% of the participants thought they follow the suggested and explained/shown exercise program, the rate being higher in females. The rate of those who stated that they wanted to follow their exercise program with an observer was 68.3%.
Conclusion: Assessing the conditions that prevent cancer patients from exercising, intervening in modifiable factors, and making exercise a part of the treatment process by considering their demands for physical activity may contribute to the health of patients.
Cite this article as: Ercan S, Ogul A, Arslan E, Kocer M, Baskurt F, Cetin C. Evaluating the attitudes of individuals with a history of cancer towards exercise using the transtheoretical model. Turk J Sports Med. 2021;56(3):106-12; http://dx.doi.org/10.47447/tjsm.0507
The authors declared no conflicts of interest with respect to authorship and/or publication of the article.
The authors received no financial support for the research and/or publication of this article.
Bu çalışmada bizden desteğini esirgemeyen başta Cemaliye Bardakçı, Nurcan Anakurt ve Halil Tanrıverdi olmak üzere Isparta Kansev Derneği çalışanları ile Nihal Akar ve Sibel Akar başta olmak üzere Sakarya Kanserder Derneği çalışanlarına katkılarından dolayı teşekkür ederiz.
