Barriers to physical activity: A study of academic and community cancer survivors with pain Journal Article


Authors: Romero, S. A. D.; Brown, J. C.; Bauml, J. M.; Hay, J. L.; Li, Q. S.; Cohen, R. B.; Mao, J. J.
Article Title: Barriers to physical activity: A study of academic and community cancer survivors with pain
Abstract: Purpose: Despite the numerous benefits of physical activity (PA) for patients with cancer, many cancer survivors report challenges to participating in PA. The objectives of this study were (1) to assess barriers to PA and (2) to examine participant characteristics associated with modifiable barriers to PA among cancer survivors with pain. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey study at one academic medical center and 11 community hospitals. Participants completed the 12-item Physical Activity Barriers After Cancer (PABAC) instrument (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.75). Multivariable regression models examined participant characteristics associated with PABAC scores with a higher score indicating more barriers to PA. Results: Among 662 survivors, 67% had moderate or severe pain (rating 4 or greater on a scale of 0 to 10). Seventy-five percent of survivors did not meet the American Cancer Society PA recommendations on average, and these individuals had higher mean PABAC scores (beta coefficient (β) = 2.02, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.96–3.09, p < 0.001). In adjusted analyses, cancer survivors who were non-white (β = 1.55, 0.28–2.82, p = 0.02), treated at a community hospital (β = 1.07, 0.09–2.05, p = 0.03), had surgery (β = 1.69, 0.69–2.69, p = 0.001), or within 12 months of diagnosis (β = 1.15, 0.20–2.10, p = 0.02) reported greater barriers to PA. Conclusions: The majority of cancer survivors with pain are not adequately participating in PA. Key demographic and clinical characteristics are associated with survivors’ barriers. Implications for Cancer Survivors: Efforts to overcome specific barriers are needed to promote PA after a cancer diagnosis. © 2018, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.
Keywords: pain; physical activity; cancer survivors; barriers
Journal Title: Journal of Cancer Survivorship
Volume: 12
Issue: 6
ISSN: 1932-2259
Publisher: Springer  
Date Published: 2018-12-01
Start Page: 744
End Page: 752
Language: English
DOI: 10.1007/s11764-018-0711-y
PUBMED: 30182150
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC6461363
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 3 December 2018 -- Source: Scopus
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  1. Jennifer L Hay
    264 Hay
  2. Jun J Mao
    243 Mao
  3. Sally Ann Dominick Romero
    18 Romero
  4. Qing Susan Li
    82 Li