Abstract 359P
Background
Although engaging in exercise after breast cancer surgery (BCS) has been shown to facilitate faster recovery, factors influencing exercise participation during the early recovery phase remain unclear in breast cancer patients. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the perceptions, attitudes, and barriers to exercise in breast cancer patients immediately after surgery and up to 4 weeks post-surgery.
Methods
A descriptive qualitative research method was employed to investigate this topic. A purposive sample of 33 breast cancer patients was selected, and each participant was interviewed three times over a one-month period after surgery.
Results
We found physical constraints and psychological resistance were identified as barriers to exercise. Postoperative physical symptoms (pain, range of motion, lack of fitness, and seroma) and surgical drains were identified as physical constraints. Participants also faced psychological resistance such as concerns about side effects, lack of willpower, and fear of pain. Furthermore, a lack of trustworthy information regarding the timing of exercise initiation and proper types of exercise after surgery was identified as a psychological resistance. Table: 359P
Themes, codes, and categories from the interviews
| Categories | %(n) | Codes | %(n) | Theme | %(n) |
| Physical constraints | 100% (33) | Postoperative physical symptoms | 100% (33) | Pain at the surgery site | 87.9% (29) |
| Limited range of motion | 66.6% (22) | ||||
| Lack of fitness | 33.3% (11) | ||||
| Seroma | 12.2% (4) | ||||
| Operation derived condition | 45.4% (15) | Drain | 45.5% (15) | ||
| Psychological resistance | 48.5% (16) | Perception and attitude | 54.5% (18) | Concerns about side effects | 42.4% (13) |
| Lack of willpower | 15.2% (5) | ||||
| Fear of pain | 15.2% (5) | ||||
| Concerns due to lack of trustworthy exercise information | 54.5% (18) | Concerns regarding the exercise timing being inappropriate | 42.4% (14) | ||
| Discouragement from others | 18.2% (6) |
Conclusions
The identified barriers, both physical and psychological, should be taken into consideration when developing strategies to motivate and support patients in engaging in exercise. The identified barriers, both physical and psychological, should be taken into consideration when developing strategies to motivate and support patients in engaging in exercise.
Clinical trial identification
This study involves human participants and was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Severance Hospital (IRB No. 4-2018-1094).
Editorial acknowledgement
This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea grant number NRF-2017S1A5A2A01024689, NRF-2021S1A5B5A16077404, the National R&D Programme for Cancer Control, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea (HA21C0067000021) and the Yonsei Signature Research Cluster Programme 2021220009.
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea grant number NRF-2017S1A5A2A01024689, NRF-2021S1A5B5A16077404, the National R&D Programme for Cancer Control, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea (HA21C0067000021) and the Yonsei Signature Research Cluster Programme 2021220009.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.
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