Exercise programming and counseling preferences in bladder cancer survivors: a population-based study

Despite growing evidence of the benefits of exercise in cancer survivors, exercise participation rates are low. Understanding the unique exercise programming and counseling preferences of different cancer survivor groups may facilitate the delivery of optimal exercise programs in these growing populations. To date, no study has examined these preferences in bladder cancer survivors.

Participants were 397 bladder cancer survivors who completed a mailed survey in the province of Alberta, Canada.

The majority of survivors indicated they would be interested (81.1%) and able (84.3%) to participate in an exercise program designed for bladder cancer survivors. We also found strong preferences for home-based exercise programming (53.7%), walking (81.1%), moderate intensity activity (61.7%) and unsupervised sessions (70.6%). Logistic regression analyses showed that older survivors were more likely to prefer to exercise at home (77 vs. 68%; OR = 4.21, 95% CI = 0.188–0.962, p = 0.040), do light intensity exercise (33 vs. 16%; OR = 4.50, 95% CI = 0.208–0.940, p = 0.034) and want unsupervised exercise sessions (75 vs. 62%; OR = 4.60, 95% CI = 1.07–4.08, p = 0.032). Body mass index, age, adjuvant therapy, marital status, income and education also influenced some exercise preferences.

These findings suggest that bladder cancer survivors are interested in receiving exercise counseling and have some consistent programming preferences including exercising at home, walking, and moderate intensity exercise. Many preferences were modified by demographic and medical factors.

Understanding the unique exercise preferences of bladder cancer survivors may be used to inform the design and delivery of exercise programs in this growing population.