A cancer personalised activity and lifestyle tool (CAN-PAL): A codesign study with patients and healthcare professionals

Abstract

Aims: To codesign a cancer personalised activity and lifestyle tool (CAN-PAL) based on an existing tool. To help cancer care workers support people affected by cancer to plan and integrate physical activity into lifestyles.

Design: Mixed-methods codesign study.

Methods: Phase 1: Focus groups with people affected by cancer (n = 10) or interviews (n = 2) to discuss suitable physical activities and adaptation of the existing tool. Data were recorded, transcribed and analysed thematically. Themes informed the design of the prototype CAN-PAL and user guide. Phase 2: Healthcare professionals considered the potential use of the CAN-PAL prototype and completed an online survey including the system usability scale and free text responses.

Results: Phase 1: Identified suitable physical activities and four themes were identified including: Capability, benefits, barriers and resources which informed the prototype CAN-PAL and user guide. Phase 2: The user survey was completed by 12 healthcare professionals. Median (range) system usability scale was 80 (50-95) (best score 100), scores >68 indicate good or better usability. Themes from the free text comments included strengths, amendments, considerations and limitations. Results were used to finalise CAN-PAL and the user guide.

Conclusion: The codesigned CAN-PAL tool had good usability. Further work is needed to evaluate the impact of CAN-PAL on activity levels and behaviour in people affected by cancer.

Relevance to clinical practice: People affected by cancer need support to undertake physical activity. The purpose of CAN-PAL is to assist cancer care workers to support people affected by cancer to plan and integrate physical activity into lifestyles.

Patient or public contribution: Public partners considered the findings from Phase 1 and 2 and informed the design of the prototype, final CAN-PAL and user guide and coauthored the paper.

Reporting method: The study adhered to relevant EQUATOR guidelines; the study was reported according to the COREQ checklist.

Keywords: cancer; personalised; physical activity.