Examining the Priorities, Needs and Preferences of Men with Metastatic Prostate Cancer in Designing a Personalised eHealth Exercise Intervention

Holly E L Evans; Cynthia C Forbes; Corneel Vandelanotte; Daniel A Galvão; Robert U Newton; Gary Wittert; Suzanne Chambers; Ganessan Kichenadasse; Nicholas Brook; Danielle Girard; Camille E Short

doi:10.1007/s12529-020-09932-2

Examining the Priorities, Needs and Preferences of Men with Metastatic Prostate Cancer in Designing a Personalised eHealth Exercise Intervention

Int J Behav Med. 2021 Aug;28(4):431-443. doi: 10.1007/s12529-020-09932-2. Epub 2020 Sep 23.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Freemasons Foundation Centre for Men's Health, School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, PO Box 11060, Adelaide, South Australia, 5001, Australia. holly.evans@adelaide.edu.au.
² Wolfson Palliative Care Research Centre, University of Hull, Hull, HU6 7RX, UK.
³ School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences, Appleton Institute, Physical Activity Research Group, Central Queensland University, Bruce Highway, North Rockhampton, Queensland, 4702, Australia.
⁴ Exercise Medicine Research Institute, Edith Cowan University, 270 Joondalup Drive, Joondalup, Western Australia, 6027, Australia.
⁵ School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
⁶ Freemasons Foundation Centre for Men's Health, School of Medicine, University of Adelaide, PO Box 11060, Adelaide, South Australia, 5001, Australia.
⁷ Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, PO Box 123, Broadway, Sydney, New South Wales, 2007, Australia.
⁸ College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, South Australia, 5001, Australia.
⁹ Department of Surgery, University of Adelaide, Corner of North Terrace & George Street, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia.
¹⁰ School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, GPO Box 2471, Adelaide, South Australia, 5001, Australia.
¹¹ Melbourne Centre for Behaviour Change, Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences and Melbourne School of Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Barry Building, Tin Alley, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia.

PMID: 32968943
DOI: 10.1007/s12529-020-09932-2

Abstract

Background: Few individuals with metastatic prostate cancer have access to prostate cancer-specific exercise support, despite demonstrated benefits. eHealth tools, such as websites, may be viable options for increasing access. To be effective and acceptable, future eHealth websites need to consider end-users' perspectives, capacity and needs. We aim to provide insight into these factors by exploring daily priorities, activities and health literacy of individuals with metastatic prostate cancer and their perspectives towards exercise and exercise-based web-based eHealth interventions.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews explored participant's experiences and understanding of their disease, exercise levels, advice received from health care providers, as well as acceptability of and suggested content for an eHealth tool. A thematic analysis was undertaken.

Results: Interviews were conducted with eighteen Australians (55-83 years; M = 71.5, SD = 8.9) living with metastatic prostate cancer. Needing to perform daily responsibilities was a key priority. Participants had limited understanding of the benefits of prostate cancer-specific exercise, and less than half discussed exercise with their health team. Fourteen men felt they could report metastases location, but only four could provide detailed information, which has clinical implications for exercise prescription. A potential web-based intervention was considered acceptable by seventeen men for reasons such as affordability, accessibility and convenience. User-friendly design and practitioner support were important.

Conclusions: Results identified key aspects useful for person-centred design of exercise programs. Participants were positive towards the proposed web-based tool and expressed the need for individualised, user-friendly and reliable information with support from a professional embedded. Lastly, not all participants could accurately report metastasis locations.

Keywords: Behaviour change; Exercise; Internet; Metastatic prostate cancer; Support needs; eHealth.