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Patients and carers' perspectives of participating in a pilot tailored exercise program during chemoradiotherapy for high grade glioma : A qualitative study
Halkett, Georgia K. B. Cormie, Prue McGough, Shirley Zopf, Eva M. Galvao, Daniel A. Newton, Robert U. Nowak, Anna K.
Halkett, Georgia K. B.
Cormie, Prue
McGough, Shirley
Zopf, Eva M.
Galvao, Daniel A.
Newton, Robert U.
Nowak, Anna K.
Abstract
Objective
To describe glioblastoma patients’ and carers’ perspectives of participating in a tailored exercise intervention during chemoradiotherapy.
Methods
A pilot study was conducted to evaluate if exercise was a feasible and safe therapy in patients with glioblastoma undergoing chemoradiotherapy. Patients received a supervised exercise intervention involving an individualised prescription of moderate-intensity aerobic and resistance exercise twice weekly, performed at the hospital when they attended for treatment. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants and their carers. Recordings were analysed using thematic analysis.
Results
19 patients and 15 carers participated. Benefits and challenges of participating in the exercise intervention were described. Benefits included an individually tailored exercise program, improvements in health, regaining a sense of control, interacting with people, keeping active and benefits for carers. Challenges included managing symptoms associated with diagnosis and treatment, juggling treatment and exercise, and difficulties engaging in the program.
Conclusion
Patients and carers expressed positive perceptions and experiences of participating in exercise during chemoradiotherapy; however, some challenges were experienced. These results support the quantitative pilot study which demonstrated that supervised exercise is feasible, safe and well tolerated by patients receiving chemoradiotherapy for glioblastoma. Randomised controlled trials now need to be conducted with this population.
Keywords
carers, exercise, glioblastoma, patients, semi-structured interviews
Date
2021
Type
Journal article
Journal
European Journal of Cancer Care
Book
Volume
30
Issue
5
Page Range
1-11
Article Number
Article e13453
ACU Department
Centre for Exercise and Nutrition
Faculty of Health Sciences
Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research
Faculty of Health Sciences
Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research
Collections
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
All rights reserved
File Access
Controlled