A group dance intervention engaging breast cancer survivors in physical activity in a middle-income country

Oral Presentation C10.7

Authors

  • Maria A. Rubio Universidad de los Andes
  • Carlos M. Mejía-Arbeláez Universidad de los Andes
  • Maria A. Wilches-Mongollon Universidad de los Andes
  • Carolyn Finck Universidad de los Andes
  • Santiago Cabas Universidad de los Andes
  • Oscar Rubiano Bogotá District's Institute of Recreation and Sports
  • Alberto Flórez Pontificia Universidad Javeriana
  • José G. León Hospital de San José
  • Lisa G. Rosas Stanford University School of Medicine
  • Robert W. Haile University of California Los Angeles
  • Olga L. Sarmiento Universidad de los Andes
  • Abby C. King Stanford University School of Medicine

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14288/hfjc.v14i3.708

Keywords:

Breast Cancer Survivors, Physical Activity, Behaviour Change Intervention, Community-Based Program, Mixed-Methods Assessment

Abstract

Background: Interventions to promote physical activity (PA) among women breast cancer survivors (BCS) tailored to real-world contexts within low to middle-income countries are limited. Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the uptake and effect of “My Body”, a theory-driven intervention co-created through cross-sectoral cooperation to promote PA among BCS in Bogotá, Colombia. Methods: We conducted a quasi-experimental pilot study employing a mixed-methods approach to assess the 8-week, 3 times/week group dance PA intervention. The effect on participants’ PA levels (measured by accelerometry), motivation to engage in PA, and quality of life was evaluated using a difference-in-difference analysis. The qualitative method included semi-structured interviews thematically analyzed to evaluate the uptake. Results: Based on real-world setting conditions, 64 BCS were allocated on the intervention (N=31) and the control groups (N=33). In the PA arm, 84% attended ≥60% of PA sessions, and percent of women meeting ≥500 metabolic equivalents/week (METs) (≥150 mins/week) increased from 43.7% to 75% (increase in controls=0%). PA participants significantly increased ratings of motivation (change score=0.45, vs. control -0.05; P=0.03), and reported improvements in perceived behavioral capabilities to be active. Conclusions: The dancing intervention showed promise for improving PA and should be tested in a larger crossover trial. The high attendance, behavioral changes, and successful cross-sectoral delivery indicate the potential effectivity, feasibility, and scalability of the intervention for BCS in Colombia. Culturally appropriate PA programs tailored to real-context community settings have the potential of generating behavioral changes among BCS in middle-income countries. Funding: National Institutes of Health [Award 5P20CA217199-02], the CRDF Global [Agreement OISE-19-66198-1].

Published

2021-09-30

How to Cite

Rubio, M., Mejía-Arbeláez, C., Wilches-Mongollon, M. ., Finck, C., Cabas, S., Rubiano, O., Flórez, A., León, J., Rosas, L., Haile, R., Sarmiento, O., & King, A. (2021). A group dance intervention engaging breast cancer survivors in physical activity in a middle-income country: Oral Presentation C10.7. The Health & Fitness Journal of Canada, 14(3). https://doi.org/10.14288/hfjc.v14i3.708

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