What are your thoughts on exercise prescriptions for promoting physical activity after cancer?

A PhD project at Sheffield Hallam University is exploring the use of written exercise prescriptions to promote physical activity among people who have had cancer.

People who have had cancer are at a greater risk of developing chronic health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, fatigue and reduced strength and mobility. Exercise is a simple, evidence-based way to reduce the risk of developing chronic diseases, reduce fatigue and to improve quality of life and mental well-being. Yet despite this, many people who have had cancer are not very active. Reported barriers to engaging in exercise include fatigue, pain, low motivation and uncertainty surrounding what exercises are safe. Therefore, it is important to involve oncology healthcare professionals to support people to be more physically active.

Previous research has shown that people want to hear exercise recommendations from their oncologist, and enjoy low intensity exercise, such as walking. However, many oncologists do not promote exercise in their conversations with patients, highlighting a missed opportunity to support people to be active.

Therefore, this PhD project is aiming to explore the role of oncologist-delivered written exercise prescriptions within routine consultations with people who have had cancer, to see whether they can be effective for increasing physical activity.

We want to hear your views surrounding exercise prescriptions, to inform the development of our study. Do you think they would help you to be more active? What format would you like to see an exercise prescription in? (for example, paper, electronic). What type of exercises would you want to have in a prescription?

Please have your say on the discussion forum below.

If you would like to take part in a short interview or focus group to share your thoughts in more detail, please email Emily at [email protected]