Perspectives on Ease of Use and Value of a Self-Monitoring Application to Support Physical Activity Maintenance among Individuals Living with and beyond Cancer
Background: Physical activity (PA) can improve the physical and psychosocial health of individuals with cancer, yet PA levels remain low. Technology may address PA maintenance barriers in oncology, though the intervention effectiveness to date remains mixed. Qualitative research can reveal the nuanc...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Current Oncology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/31/3/120 |
| _version_ | 1827306537299738624 |
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| author | Manuel Ester Meghan H. McDonough Mannat Bansal Julianna Dreger Julia T. Daun Margaret L. McNeely Thompson Luu S. Nicole Culos-Reed |
| author_facet | Manuel Ester Meghan H. McDonough Mannat Bansal Julianna Dreger Julia T. Daun Margaret L. McNeely Thompson Luu S. Nicole Culos-Reed |
| author_sort | Manuel Ester |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Physical activity (PA) can improve the physical and psychosocial health of individuals with cancer, yet PA levels remain low. Technology may address PA maintenance barriers in oncology, though the intervention effectiveness to date remains mixed. Qualitative research can reveal the nuances of using technology-based PA maintenance tools. The present study aimed to understand the perspectives of individuals with cancer on using an app to support PA maintenance. Methods: Individuals were interviewed after using a self-monitoring app for 24 weeks, asking about their app use, ease of use, and perceived value for supporting PA. Analyses were guided by an interpretive description. Results: Eighteen individuals were interviewed. The participants were 37–75 years old; lived in seven Canadian provinces/territories; identified as White, South Asian, or Indigenous; and had eight different cancers. Four themes were developed: some did not need the app to stay physically active, some valued the app for helping them maintain their PA, the user experience ranged from intuitive to confusing, and the time burden of app use ranged from acceptable to overwhelming. Conclusions: The participants provided insights on using a self-monitoring app to improve PA maintenance in oncology. Work is needed to capture additional perspectives and apply findings to the development of technology-based PA maintenance tools. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:24:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-10266e40adb5498484ea5528c91e6957 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1198-0052 1718-7729 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:24:10Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Current Oncology |
| spelling | doaj.art-10266e40adb5498484ea5528c91e69572024-03-27T13:32:47ZengMDPI AGCurrent Oncology1198-00521718-77292024-03-013131572158710.3390/curroncol31030120Perspectives on Ease of Use and Value of a Self-Monitoring Application to Support Physical Activity Maintenance among Individuals Living with and beyond CancerManuel Ester0Meghan H. McDonough1Mannat Bansal2Julianna Dreger3Julia T. Daun4Margaret L. McNeely5Thompson Luu6S. Nicole Culos-Reed7Faculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, CanadaFaculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, CanadaFaculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, CanadaFaculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, CanadaFaculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, CanadaDepartment of Physical Therapy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, CanadaFaculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, CanadaFaculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 1N4, CanadaBackground: Physical activity (PA) can improve the physical and psychosocial health of individuals with cancer, yet PA levels remain low. Technology may address PA maintenance barriers in oncology, though the intervention effectiveness to date remains mixed. Qualitative research can reveal the nuances of using technology-based PA maintenance tools. The present study aimed to understand the perspectives of individuals with cancer on using an app to support PA maintenance. Methods: Individuals were interviewed after using a self-monitoring app for 24 weeks, asking about their app use, ease of use, and perceived value for supporting PA. Analyses were guided by an interpretive description. Results: Eighteen individuals were interviewed. The participants were 37–75 years old; lived in seven Canadian provinces/territories; identified as White, South Asian, or Indigenous; and had eight different cancers. Four themes were developed: some did not need the app to stay physically active, some valued the app for helping them maintain their PA, the user experience ranged from intuitive to confusing, and the time burden of app use ranged from acceptable to overwhelming. Conclusions: The participants provided insights on using a self-monitoring app to improve PA maintenance in oncology. Work is needed to capture additional perspectives and apply findings to the development of technology-based PA maintenance tools.https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/31/3/120exercisephysical activityoncologycancer carebehavior changeelectronic health |
| spellingShingle | Manuel Ester Meghan H. McDonough Mannat Bansal Julianna Dreger Julia T. Daun Margaret L. McNeely Thompson Luu S. Nicole Culos-Reed Perspectives on Ease of Use and Value of a Self-Monitoring Application to Support Physical Activity Maintenance among Individuals Living with and beyond Cancer Current Oncology exercise physical activity oncology cancer care behavior change electronic health |
| title | Perspectives on Ease of Use and Value of a Self-Monitoring Application to Support Physical Activity Maintenance among Individuals Living with and beyond Cancer |
| title_full | Perspectives on Ease of Use and Value of a Self-Monitoring Application to Support Physical Activity Maintenance among Individuals Living with and beyond Cancer |
| title_fullStr | Perspectives on Ease of Use and Value of a Self-Monitoring Application to Support Physical Activity Maintenance among Individuals Living with and beyond Cancer |
| title_full_unstemmed | Perspectives on Ease of Use and Value of a Self-Monitoring Application to Support Physical Activity Maintenance among Individuals Living with and beyond Cancer |
| title_short | Perspectives on Ease of Use and Value of a Self-Monitoring Application to Support Physical Activity Maintenance among Individuals Living with and beyond Cancer |
| title_sort | perspectives on ease of use and value of a self monitoring application to support physical activity maintenance among individuals living with and beyond cancer |
| topic | exercise physical activity oncology cancer care behavior change electronic health |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1718-7729/31/3/120 |
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