P07-06 Physical activity promotion in cancer patient: opinions and practices of health professionals

peer reviewedAbstract Background Literature suggests that health professionals (HPs) can play an important role in promoting physical activity (PA) in cancer patients (Jones et al., 2004). This study had three purposes: (1) analyzing HPs' knowledge and opinion about PA for cancer patients; (2) examining practices, barriers and roles that they identify when considering PA promotion in their patients; (3) determining factors that may enhance practices in this field. Methods This study was designed in two phases and took place in Wallonia, Belgium. The first phase was qualitative: 12 HPs were interviewed about their experiences with PA in cancer patients. Then, in the second (and quantitative) phase, an online survey was created based upon the results of the first phase and upon the relevant literature. We sent this second-phase survey to professional organizations, hospitals and medical health centers and received 68 responses. Results In both phases of the study, HPs seemed to be aware of the benefits of PA for cancer patients and considered that they have to play a role in promoting PA in that specific population. However, only 25% (n = 17) of HPs were familiar with the official PA guidelines. According to our results, HPs discuss the topic of PA with more than 7 out of 10 patients (7.11 ± 2.61). Lack of time and lack of knowledge about PA were identified as barriers to PA promotion. Finally, other relationships that may help to explain the role of HPs in PA promotion were uncovered: clinicians who used more information (e.g. PA benefits) (p = >0.001), exercised referrals (p = 0.012), and prescribed PA (p = 0.007) had higher intervention rates. Conclusions Our findings suggest that improving HPs' knowledge about PA guidelines and how it can be proposed to cancer patients could help them to promote PA and to encourage their patients to consult a PA specialist, and eventually adopt a physically active lifestyle

Physical activity prescription for chronic disease in Belgium: results of a 6-month intervention led by physical educators

peer reviewedAbstract Background Physical activity (PA) prescription has the potential to be an important therapeutic agent for all ages in primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of chronic disease (Thornton et al., 2016). However, physicians report that they do not deliver PA counselling because of limitations in time, knowledge, confidence, and practical tools (Meriwether, Lee, Lafleur, & Wiseman, 2008). Physical educators have the required skills to address those issues in encouraging patients to adopt an active lifestyle that will reduce the incidence of their chronic conditions. In Belgium, physical activity prescription initiatives are emerging: this study aimed at monitoring one of these to ensure the development of evidence-based intervention relying on HEPA best practices. Methods With a PA prescription from their doctor, patients with chronic cardiac, neurological, metabolic, oncologic or spinal disease took part to a 6-month intervention supervised by physical educators in a Belgian municipality. The program was composed of weekly sessions of physical exercise focusing on the 4 dimensions of physical fitness according to international recommendations (ACSM, 2016). Monthly motivational sessions were also organized to promote active lifestyle. Monthly assessments included PA level (Ricci & Gagnon,2011), SF-36 (Ware & Sherbourne, 1992), and Senior Fitness Test (Rikli & Jones, 2001). Results Preliminary results after one month intervention on 19 patients (68.6 ± 10.8 years) with chronic cardiac (n = 11), neurological (n = 2), metabolic (n = 1), oncological (n = 4) or spinal (n = 1) disease exposed significant improvements of their lower (p = 0.03) and upper (p = 0.01) body strength, and aerobic endurance (p = 0.17). No significant changes were observed for physical activity level and SF-36 scores. Further results will provide information about the impact of motivational sessions on the adoption of an active lifestyle. Conclusions Physical activity prescription supervised by physical educators has the potential to bridge the missing link between hospital revalidation performed by health care professionals and autonomous physical activity. If outcomes are favourable, it could provide an advocacy to inspire key decision makers and policies to ameliorate chronic diseases care involving physical educators. Future local interventions should therefore rely on existing guidelines (Inserm, 2019) and support the development of this specific HEPA environment

Activité physique, temps d’écran et sommeil chez les adolescents belges et canadiens: le rôle de l’école lors du confinement lié à la COVID-19

Lors de la première vague de la pandémie de la COVID-19, plusieurs régions du monde ont imposé un confinement général à ses citoyens, forçant ainsi les écoles à fermer. C’est le cas notamment de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles (Belgique) et de la région de de Montréal (Canada), où la poursuite de l’enseignement à distance a pris un certain temps à s’organiser. Dans ces deux régions, les écoles secondaires sont demeurées fermées de la mi-mars jusqu’aux vacances estivales, entraînant une diminution des contacts entre les élèves et leurs enseignants en éducation physique, en plus d’une diminution des opportunités de pratique d’activités physiques. Néanmoins, peu d’information existe concernant ce qui a été mis en place par les écoles secondaires durant cette période afin de promouvoir la pratique d’activités physiques des adolescents. Les objectifs de cette étude sont de : 1) documenter comment les écoles secondaires de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles et de Montréal ont promu l’adoption d’un mode de vie physiquement actif chez leurs élèves, et 2) comparer la pratique d’activités physiques, le temps d’écran et le sommeil de ces élèves lors de la période précédant le confinement avec la période du confinement. Près de 2000 élèves de la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles ainsi que 2661 élèves de Montréal ont complété le questionnaire en ligne. Les résultats obtenus permettront de brosser un portrait des contacts réalisés entre le personnel scolaire et les élèves, des sujets abordés lors de ces prises de contact, des ressources proposées et de l’impact de ces ressources sur la pratique d’activités physiques des élèves, en plus d’évaluer les effets du confinement sur leur pratique d’activités physiques, leur temps d’écran et leur sommeil. Une analyse comparative entre la Fédération Wallonie-Bruxelles et la région de Montréal est également proposé afin d’exposer les différences et les similitudes vécues dans ces deux régions

Opinion and practices of health professionals on physical activity promotion in cancer patients

Background and purpose Literature suggests that health professionals (HPs) can play an important role in promoting physical activity (PA) in cancer patients (Jones et al., 2004). This study had three purposes: (1) analyzing HPs’ knowledge and opinion about PA for cancer patients; (2) examining practices, barriers and roles that they identify when considering PA promotion in their patients; (3) determining factors that may enhance practices in this field. Methods This study comprised two phases. The first phase had a qualitative approach: 12 HPs participated in a semi-structured interview about their views and practices regarding PA promotion in cancer patients. The second phase used a quantitative approach: based on the findings of the analysis of the interviews and on the relevant literature, an online questionnaire was created, tested and sent to professional health organizations, hospitals and medical centers involved in oncology. A total of 68 HPs participated in the survey. Results In both phases of the study, HPs seemed to be aware of the benefits of PA for cancer patients and considered that they have to play a role in promoting PA in that specific population. However, only 25% (n=17) of HPs were familiar with the official PA guidelines. According to our results, HPs discuss the topic of PA with more than 7 out of 10 patients (7.11 ± 2.61). Lack of time and lack of knowledge about PA were identified as barriers to PA promotion and lack of knowledge was associated with a lower rate of interventions. Conclusions and implications Our findings suggest that improving HPs’ knowledge about PA and how it can be proposed to cancer patients could help them to promote PA and to encourage their patients to consult a PA specialist. Such HPs’ professional development should be considered as an interesting topic for sport pedagogy specialists