Feasibility and acceptability of a telehealth behavior change intervention for promoting physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption among rural-living young adult cancer survivors

Abstract

Purpose: We assessed the feasibility and acceptability of a 12-week telehealth behavior change intervention to promote physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption among rural-living young adult cancer survivors.

Methods: Participants met with a health coach once a week for 60 minutes for 12 weeks. Feasibility measures included rates of recruitment, enrollment, attrition, retention, adherence, and missing data. Acceptability was assessed using semi-structured interviews.

Findings: Over 1-year, 18 individuals self-referred, 9 were eligible and consented to participate, and 2 dropped out. Retention was 74% and adherence was 95%. Participants considered the length of the intervention, synchronous communication with the health coach, and the distance-based delivery mode to be acceptable. Moreover, participants described key behavior change techniques and recommended minor changes.

Implications: Findings provide information that can help refine future trials seeking to increase access to behavior change interventions and optimize participation in health-promoting behaviors for underserved populations.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT03691545. Registered on October 1, 2018.

Keywords:

• Diet
• physical activity
• psychosocial
• supportive care
• survivorship

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank participants for their involvement in this study. This work was conducted while the first author (JP) was supported by a Queen Elizabeth II Graduate Scholarship in Science & Technology. The second author (JB) holds a Canada Research Chair Tier II in Physical Activity Promotion for Cancer Prevention and Survivorship.