Integrating Fitness Training in Oncologic Care: Lessons Learned from a Large Telemedicine Trial.
Karen S Schaepe, Jeffrey R Basford, Andrea L Cheville
PMID 39822208WHAT IT FOUND
Most patients valued regular phone contact with a physical therapist coordinator more than the exercise itself.
They used these calls to reframe goals and manage fatigue. Oncologists remained skeptical, citing workflow barriers and doubts about the value of exercise for late-stage cancer.
Key findings
01Patients identified the relationship with the physical therapist coordinator as the most beneficial component, helping them reframe goals and accept losses.
02While most patients perceived benefits like reduced fatigue, oncologists remained skeptical about exercise for terminal patients and found integrating async data into their workflow difficult.
03Patients often resisted seeing a local physical therapist for in-person support, preferring to compartmentalize their fitness program from their oncologic care.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The sample was small (31 patients) and drawn from a single large medical center, limiting generalizability. The study did not systematically assess barriers to providing feedback or health literacy. Participant demographics were similar to the main trial, but self-selection bias may exist among those who agreed to be interviewed. This is a qualitative follow-up; it does not provide evidence of efficacy for the intervention itself, only perceptions of the experience.
Declared interests
The investigators have no financial or nonfinancial disclosures to make in relation to this project.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret this as evidence that telemedicine fitness programs are ineffective or that oncologists reject them entirely. The study reports perceptions, not outcomes. The skepticism from oncologists highlights implementation barriers like workflow integration, not necessarily a lack of clinical benefit for the patients who did participate.