Title : Exercise Intervention for women following chemotherapy for ovarian cancer
Abstract:
Reluctance of women following treatment for ovarian cancer, to take part in exercise is a global health issue negatively effecting health outcomes. The study aim was to develop, implement and evaluate an approach to optimise the implementation of an exercise intervention for women following chemotherapy treatment for ovarian cancer.
Methods: This single centre, realist evaluation study incorporated three stages. Stage 1 was a realist literature review which developed an initial programme theory of how exercise interventions are thought to work. Stage 2 incorporated a series of co-design workshops with ovarian cancer survivors and their informal carers, to test and refine the initial programme theory. Stage 3 involved testing and evaluating the implementation strategy through the implementation and evaluation of a 12-week homebased exercise intervention with women following chemotherapy treatment for ovarian cancer.
Results: Key results focused on best practice and innovative approaches in nursing care necessary to encourage this group of women to take part in an exercise intervention and include: the initial approach should be made by a disease specific health care professional; flexibility in timing of approach to participate; weekly telephone behavioural support; and a home-based approach. This promotes: an improvement in psychological health a sense of control over one’s health and empowers women to reach exercise goals. A recruitment rate of 73.8% was achieved. 100% achieved the recommended dose of aerobic exercise, with 93.4% achieving the recommended dose of resistance training. The retention rate was 96.7%. The co-design process facilitated exercise uptake, adherence and retention. This intervention is feasible and safe for this group of women. These findings contributed to the evolution of a programme theory in relation to how to successfully implement exercise into practice.
