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Evaluating the feasibility of a novel approach to increasing physical activity levels in breast cancer survivors : a RE-AIM analysis

University of British Columbia

Translating research interventions into community practice is critical for improving population level health. Project MOVE, is an innovative real-world approach to increasing physical activity (PA) levels in breast cancer (BC) survivors. BC survivors were given the opportunity to develop and implement a PA program with the help of action grants (microgrants and financial incentives). Utilising action grants towards increasing PA in BC survivors is both innovative and unique to the BC related literature, thus evaluating this novel approach is warranted. This study evaluated the feasibility of Project MOVE in terms of acceptability, practicality and satisfaction utilising the RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance) framework. A mixed-methods design was used to inform each RE-AIM dimension, via questionnaires (n=87), focus groups (n=10) and interviews (n=10). Reach was evaluated by the proportion of targeted individuals recruited. Effectiveness was evaluated by objective and perceived changes in PA. Adoption was evaluated by participant’s perceptions of process and acceptability to uptaking the program. Implementation was examined by barriers and facilitators to implementing the program as intended. Lastly, Maintenance was evaluated by participant retention and maintenance of PA. Assessments occurred at baseline and six months. The current study revealed that Project MOVE was well received by BC survivors. In terms of Reach, 82% of participants were BC survivors; Effectiveness, participants significantly increased PA levels from baseline to six months (p<0.001) and 72.3% felt Project MOVE helped increase PA levels; Adoption, 92.2% reported Project MOVE was highly appropriate for the BC survivor population and was accepted by 95.6% of BC survivors; Implementation, program focused on fitness rather than disease was important for engagement, leaders with BC and exercise expertise was essential to accommodate population specific barriers, and including other health education resources is warranted; Maintenance, participant retention was 83% at six months, 47% of participants reported they still engaged in PA together as a group and 87.5% were confident they would continue to be regularly active post-intervention. The present findings suggest Project MOVE is an acceptable and practical strategy for increasing PA among inactive BC survivors, particularly when it is delivered in a safe and supportive group environment.

Text

2017-10-02

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/63177

Interdisciplinary Studies

University of British Columbia

UBCO

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/