The sustainability of exercise following colorectal surgery: A qualitative study of participants in the PREPARE-ABC trial.
J Naisby, K Baker, K Skarparis and 7 others
PMID 39257057WHAT IT FOUND
Patients described a cancer exercise trial as a turning point that motivated long-term activity, especially those previously inactive.
Support, flexibility, and finding enjoyment helped sustain habits. Walking dominated, while strengthening was less frequent. This reflects patient perceptions, not proof of efficacy.
Key findings
01Participants who were mostly inactive prior to diagnosis found that involvement in the trial motivated them to become more active and maintain a physically active lifestyle over the 12-month follow-up.
02Walking was the dominant activity for maintaining long-term physical activity, particularly among standard care participants, while muscle strengthening exercises were discussed less frequently in the intervention groups.
03For previously inactive participants, the trial provided a supported way to try exercise, and enjoyment became a key factor in encouraging longer-term continuation.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The sample was small (n=18) and drawn from a specific trial population, limiting generalisability. Many participants were already physically active prior to the trial, which may influence the transferability of results to more sedentary populations. The study did not recruit participants with low adherence to the intervention, potentially missing barriers experienced by those who dropped out. Findings are based on self-reported perceptions and behaviours, which may be subject to recall bias. This is a qualitative study, so it cannot determine if the intervention caused these behaviours or if they were due to other factors.
Declared interests
Funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). Author JN receives funding from the Medical Research Foundation. The funders had no role in study design, data collection, analysis, or writing.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret these patient reports as evidence that the exercise programme caused long-term behaviour change or improved clinical outcomes. This study explores perceptions and experiences within a specific trial context, not the efficacy of the intervention itself.