Exploring lived experience of sedentary behavior during cancer treatment: - a phenomenological studyShow others and affiliations
2021 (English)Conference paper, Oral presentation with published abstract (Other academic)
Abstract [en]
Background
Sedentary behavior (SB) increases during cancer treatment, which may have deteriorating effects on long-term health. Few studies exploring patients' experience of SB during neo- or adjuvant cancer treatment have been conducted, and this information may be crucial in developing effective support for patients to reduce SB.
Purpose
To explore the lived experiences of SB in patients undergoing neo- or adjuvant cancer treatment and to explore the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods
Individual interviews were conducted with patients undergoing treatment for breast, prostate and colorectal cancer recruited from the oncological department of a university hospital in Sweden. Interviews were analyzed phenomenologically and results presented as descriptions of the phenomenon SB.
Results
Preliminary results are that patients describe SB by depicting physical activity and awareness of its health benefits. Also, being inactive or sedentary is stigmatized. The type and phase of treatment, life circumstances (COVID-19 pandemic, sick leave) as well as motivation, social support, and self-image can impact SB during treatment.
Conclusions
The results indicate that SB is difficult for patients to discern. This suggests that SB is an unimplemented concept in the cancer context and needs to be addressed in a way that does not stigmatize patients. The coronavirus pandemic had both negative and positive impacts on SB for these patients. Furthermore, developing support that targets periods with more side-effects and helping patients reduce SB throughout changed life circumstances may be helpful.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2021.
Keywords [en]
COVID-19, experience, oncology, phenomenology, sedentary behavior
National Category
Physiotherapy
Research subject
Care Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:mdh:diva-57531OAI: oai:DiVA.org:mdh-57531DiVA, id: diva2:1641612
Conference
8th International Society for Physical Activity and Health (ISPAH) Congress, Online, October 12-14, 2021
Funder
Swedish Cancer Society, 200760Pj2022-03-022022-03-022022-10-26Bibliographically approved