Semester
Spring
Date of Graduation
2012
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Type
PhD
College
College of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences
Department
Sport and Exercise Psychology
Committee Chair
Samuel Zizzi.
Abstract
The benefits of exercise during and after cancer treatment represent research areas that have received increased attention throughout the past two decades. Numerous benefits have been observed for cancer survivors who are physically active (Speck, Courneya, Masse, Duval & Schmitz, 2010). Yet oncologists have been slow to incorporate exercise counseling into practice (Daley et al., 2007). The objective of this study was to gather input from both researchers and oncologists as to what needs to happen for exercise to become part of standard care once treatment ends. The concept mapping process developed by Trochim and Kane (2007) was utilized to realize this goal. A total of 37 unique ideas were produced by participants and were grouped into six-clusters: "Education," "Inclusion of Exercise Professionals," "Changes within the Current Oncology Environment," "Research," "Needed Components of Exercise Programs," and "Patient Focused." Each of these clusters represents an area of concentration where changes are suggested for further promotion of PA for cancer survivors. Participants also rated each idea on its importance and feasibility. The "Education" cluster included many of the ideas that were rated highly on both of these variables and as such may serve as an ideal starting point for increasing cancer survivors' exercise levels. Additionally, results revealed differences between researchers and oncologists with regard to how they ranked the ideas in terms of importance and feasibility.
Recommended Citation
Fitzpatrick, Sean J., "Using Concept Mapping to Identify Action Steps for Physical Activity Promotion in Cancer Treatment" (2012). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 3582.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/3582