Need: Research suggests that physical activity improves the health, physical functioning, and quality of life of cancer survivors. Additionally, survivors of breast, prostate, or colorectal cancer who are more physically activity are less likely to experience cancer recurrence and death from cancer. Despite this evidence and physical activity recommendations for survivors from national organizations, most cancer survivors do not adhere to these recommendations. Cancer survivors who are minority or low-income may be particularly at risk for being physically inactive. Currently there are few programs to help the 1 million cancer survivors in Texas become more physically active. In particular, ...
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Need: Research suggests that physical activity improves the health, physical functioning, and quality of life of cancer survivors. Additionally, survivors of breast, prostate, or colorectal cancer who are more physically activity are less likely to experience cancer recurrence and death from cancer. Despite this evidence and physical activity recommendations for survivors from national organizations, most cancer survivors do not adhere to these recommendations. Cancer survivors who are minority or low-income may be particularly at risk for being physically inactive. Currently there are few programs to help the 1 million cancer survivors in Texas become more physically active. In particular, there is a need for low-cost or free programs with innovative delivery models that are accessible to minority, low-income, medically underserved, or rural cancer survivors. Overall Project Strategy: In this maintenance expansion grant, we will continue to implement the Active Living after Cancer (ALAC) program in areas that are medically underserved and/or rural, in collaboration with implementation partners in Houston, El Paso, Beaumont, and Tyler. In addition, we will provide online continuing education modules about physical activity and cancer for physicians, mid-level providers, and nurses. The goal of the ALAC program is to increase physical activity and improve the physical functioning and quality of life of sedentary cancer survivors, particularly those who are minority, medically underserved, or living in rural/medically underserved areas. The 12-session program teaches behavioral and cognitive skills to help cancer survivors increase their physical activity by incorporating moderate intensity physical activity into daily life. ALAC also provides support for health and quality of life issues important to cancer survivors, including fatigue, psychological distress, and nutrition, and navigates participants to appropriate services. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center serves as the training and evaluation center for this program, and partners with four organizations, Kelsey Research Foundation (Houston), Cancer and Chronic Disease Consortium (El Paso), Gift of Life (Beaumont), and University of Texas Health Science Center-Tyler, that promote and implement the program. These partners are trained to administer the program using telementoring sessions based on the Project ECHO model. The continuing medical/nursing education modules will be promoted through our partners’ relationships with healthcare providers in their community, and through the Texas Society of Clinical Oncology. Specific Goals: (1) Provide the ALAC program to 1,066 cancer survivors, focusing on minority, medically underserved and rural populations; (2) Develop, promote, and provide online continuing medical and nursing education modules on research and recommendations related to physical activity for cancer survivors; (3) Increase physical activity and improve physical functioning and quality of life among cancer survivors participating in the ALAC group program. Innovation: This program uses an innovative approach toward increasing physical activity that emphasizes increasing physical activity by incorporating short bouts of moderate intensity activity into daily life, rather than promoting structured exercise at a gym several times a week. Research shows this approach improves fitness and health outcomes, and overcomes barriers that make it difficult to sustain physical activity. ALAC also combines the physical activity program with support and navigation services to help cancer survivors cope with salient cancer-related issues. Furthermore, during the COVID pandemic we adapted the program for virtual delivery, which we are now using in combination with in-person delivery. This allows us to provide the program to survivors living anywhere in Texas. To ensure appropriate training and support of implementation partners, the program uses Project ECHO’s model of telementoring. This model is a novel approach to build a referral network and train community partners to independently implement the program successfully. The program will increase cancer survivorship resources and physical activity programs to improve the wellness and quality of life of cancer survivors in Texas. Significance and Impact: The ALAC program improves cancer survivors physical functioning and quality of life, which results in survivors being better able to resume pre-diagnosis roles and activities, such as paid employment, caring for family members, and enjoying leisure time activities. Increasing physical activity may also improve cancer survival and reduce the risk of recurrence. Providing continuing education health care providers about the benefits of physical activity for cancer survivors can improve the care they provide and ensure their patients receive appropriate physical activity recommendations and referrals.
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