Revolutionizing Cancer Survivorship: The Power of Digital Physical Activity Referrals
Physical activity is a powerful tool for enhancing the health and quality of life of cancer survivors. However, integrating physical activity referrals into clinical systems has been a challenge. Enter ActivityChoice, a pioneering program that uses electronic referrals (eReferrals) to connect cancer survivors with physical activity programs that suit their preferences.
ActivityChoice was developed and tested in two phases. In the first phase, interviews were conducted with Cancer Center clinicians and leaders of cancer-focused physical activity programs to understand how to adapt an existing eReferral system to this new context. The second phase involved pilot-testing the system with clinicians delivering referrals to survivors in two 12-week cycles. The results were promising: a significant number of clinicians adopted ActivityChoice, and many patients were referred and enrolled in physical activity programs.
The program includes a secure webform for referrals, text message or email confirmations, clinician training sessions, visual reminders, and options for in-person or virtual group physical activity programs. Both clinicians and patients appreciated the referral system and the choices it offered. The addition of a printed handout describing the programs led to more referrals, indicating that further support in the clinic workflow could facilitate more referrals.
Article Information
Development and pilot testing of a clinic implementation program delivering physical activity electronic referrals to cancer survivors.
Published in Translational Behavioral Medicine. Jamie M Faro et al.
Abstract
Provider physical activity referrals are recommended for cancer survivors, though barriers exist to clinical system integration. To develop and test ActivityChoice, an electronic referral (eReferral) clinic implementation program referring cancer survivors to physical activity programs of their choice. In Phase 1, we conducted semi-structured interviews with Cancer Center clinicians (n = 4) and cancer-focused physical activity program leaders (n = 3) assessing adaptations needed to implement an eReferral previously designed for another context. In Phase 2, we pilot-tested clinician-delivered referrals to survivors in two 12-week Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) cycles. We examined feasibility using descriptive statistics (clinicians' adoption and engagement, patient referrals, and physical activity program enrollment) and acceptability through semi-structured interviews with enrolled clinicians (n = 4) and referred patients (n = 9). ActivityChoice included a secure referral webform, text message/email referral confirmations, clinician training/booster sessions, visual reminders, and referrals to in-person or virtual group physical activity programs. Results for each PDSA cycle respectively included: 41% (n = 7) and 53% (n = 8) of clinicians adopted ActivityChoice; 18 and 36 patients were referred; 39% (n = 7) and 33% (n = 12) of patients enrolled in programs, and 30% (n = 4) and 14% (n = 5) of patients deferred enrollment. Patients and clinicians appreciated the referrals and choices. A printed handout describing both programs was added to the clinic workflow for Cycle 2, which yielded more referrals, but lower program enrollment rates. Clinic-based eReferrals to choices of physical activity programs were feasible and acceptable by clinicians and patients. Added clinic workflow support may facilitate referrals.
Bring preventive care to your clinic
© Longevity Artificial Intelligence. All rights reserved.