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.
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.