Tearing down the barriers to exercise after mastectomy: a qualitative inquiry to facilitate exercise among breast cancer survivors.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Proper exercise immediately after breast cancer surgery (BCS) may prevent unnecessary physical and psychological decline resulting from the surgery; however, patients' attitude, barriers and facilitators for exercise during this period have not been studied. Hence, this study aims to explore the barriers and facilitators of exercise among patients with breast cancer through multiple interviews immediately after surgery through 4 weeks after BCS.

Methods

We conducted three in-depth interviews of 33 patients with breast cancer within 1 month after BCS.

Results

We identified 44 themes, 10 codes and 5 categories from interview results. Physical constraints and psychological resistance were identified as the barriers to exercise, while a sense of purpose and firs

SUBMITTER: Yeon S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9335026 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature