Essential elements of optimal dietary and exercise referral practices for cancer survivors: Expert consensus for medical and nursing health professionals
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
Supportive Care in Cancer
Volume
31
Issue
1
PubMed ID
36525094
Publisher
Springer
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences / Exercise Medicine Research Institute
RAS ID
56599
Funders
National Health and Medical Research Council
Grant Number
APP1194051
Abstract
Purpose: To develop and establish expert consensus on essential elements of optimal dietary and exercise referral practices for cancer survivors. Methods: A four-round modified, Delphi method (face-to-face and electronic). In round 1, initial statements were drafted based on Cancer Australia’s Principles of Cancer Survivorship and input from key stakeholders through a cancer preconference workshop. In round 2, the initial statements were distributed to a panel (round 1 participants) to establish consensus by rating the importance of each statement using a five-point Likert scale. Statements that required significant changes in wording were redistributed to panel members in round 3 for voting. Round 4 was for consumers, requiring them to rate their level of agreement of final statements. Results: In total, 82 stakeholders participated in round 1. Response rates for survey rounds 2 and 3 were 59% (n = 54) and 39% (n = 36). Panel members included nurses (22%), dietitians (19%), exercise professionals (16%), medical practitioners (8%), and consumers (4%). The mean “importance” rating for all essential elements was 4.28 or higher (i.e., fairly important, or very important). Round 4’s consumer-only engagement received responses from 58 consumers. Overall, 24 elements reached consensus following some revised wording, including the development of three new statements based on panel feedback. Conclusion: Our developed essential elements of optimal dietary and exercise referral practices can help provide guidance to medical and nursing health professionals relevant to dietary and exercise referral practices. Future research should conduct an implementation intervention and evaluation of these essential elements to optimise dietary and exercise care in cancer survivors.
DOI
10.1007/s00520-022-07509-1
Access Rights
subscription content
Comments
Joseph, R., Hart, N. H., Bradford, N., Wallen, M. P., Han, C. Y., Pinkham, E. P., . . . Chan, R. J. (2023). Essential elements of optimal dietary and exercise referral practices for cancer survivors: Expert consensus for medical and nursing health professionals. Supportive Care in Cancer, 31(1), article 46. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-022-07509-1