Experiences participating in a telehealth exercise program among older adults with cancer: a qualitative study.

PURPOSE: Telehealth delivery of exercise programs has rapidly increased in recent years; yet, little is known regarding older cancer survivors' (OCS) experiences participating in telehealth exercise. The purpose of this study was to determine OCS barriers and facilitators to participation in telehealth-delivered exercise. METHODS: OCS who participated in a 12-week, one-on-one telehealth exercise program were recruited to participate in one of three focus groups. Focus groups were conducted virtually using a semi-structured interview guide. Focus groups were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed utilizing thematic analysis with Atlas.ti. RESULTS: Fourteen OCS (age range 65-79 years) participated in the focus groups, five (35.7%) of which had not completed a telehealth follow-up assessment. The most common cancer type was breast (n = 6, 42.9%), and all cancer stages were represented. Three overall themes were identified: having adequate space to exercise, meeting OCS physical and psychosocial needs, and OCS learning throughout the exercise program. Within these themes, five facilitators and two barriers were identified. Facilitators included the individualization of the exercise program, no travel, accountability, learning to exercise, and support from staff and family. The barriers identified were having limited space to exercise and a learning curve with technology. CONCLUSION: OCS viewed telehealth exercise positively. Identified barriers aligned with those in younger cancer survivors (≥18 years), indicating that OCS are able to engage with telehealth exercise programs alongside their younger counterparts. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Telehealth exercise mitigates exercise barriers in OCS and should be used as a strategy to support exercise participation among cancer survivors, regardless of age.

Clinical and Demographic Factors Associated With Follow-Up in a Hospital-Based Exercise Oncology Program.

OBJECTIVE: Despite the numerous benefits of regular exercise participation for cancer survivors, nearly 60% of survivors do not meet current guidelines. Hospital-based exercise oncology programs may be one strategy to promote exercise engagement as survivors have expressed a preference for exercise programs associated with a cancer hospital. However, follow-up rates in hospital-based exercise oncology programs can be low. Follow-up assessments are a critical component of exercise oncology programs as they determine survivor progress, allow for revision of exercise prescriptions, and demonstrate the effectiveness of the exercise program. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to identify clinical and demographic factors associated with not attending a 12-week follow-up assessment in a hospital-based exercise oncology program. METHODS: We analyzed data collected from 2016 to 2019 (n = 849) from the Huntsman Cancer Institute's hospital-based exercise oncology program, the Personal Optimism with Exercise Recovery (POWER) program. Cancer survivors completed an assessment at the start of POWER and were encouraged to attend a 12-week follow-up assessment. Factors associated with not attending a 12-week follow-up assessment were identified using logistic regression. RESULTS: Multiple myeloma cancer survivors were more likely (OR 2.33; 95% CI 1.09, 4.98) to not attend a 12-week follow-up assessment, whereas endometrial cancer survivors were less likely (OR 0.39; 95% CI 0.18, 0.87). Greater travel time (OR 2.69; 95% CI: 1.83, 3.96) and distance (OR 2.37; 95% CI: 1.61, 3.49) were associated with not attending a 12-week follow-up assessment. Immunotherapy (OR 1.66; 95% CI 1.02, 2.72), waist circumference (OR 1.01; 95% CI 1.00, 1.02), overweight status per body mass index (OR 1.62; 95% CI 1.11, 2.38), and male sex (OR 1.70; 95% CI 1.23, 2.35) were associated with an increased likelihood of not attending a 12-week follow-up assessment. Survivors with a higher baseline quality of life (OR 0.96; 95% CI 0.93, 0.99) and peak oxygen consumption (OR 0.97; 95% CI 0.95, 0.99) were less likely not to attend a 12-week follow-up assessment. CONCLUSIONS: Both clinical and demographic factors were associated with not attending a 12-week follow-up assessment in a hospital-based exercise oncology program. Understanding factors related to follow-up assessment attendance in exercise oncology programs can inform the development of targeted interventions to improve follow-up rate thus maximizing exercise support for cancer survivors.

Fit "N" Cool Kids: The Effects of Character Modeling and Goal Setting on Children's Physical Activity and Fruit and Vegetable Consumption.

Efforts to decrease the risk of overweight and obesity should focus on children's physical activity (PA) and fruit and vegetable (FV) consumption. Within school-based interventions, there is insufficient evidence on the effectiveness of the use of character modeling and goal setting to determine changes in step counts, MVPA, and FV consumption. Study participants were 187 students in grades 4 and 5 from 2 Title 1 elementary schools in the Southwest United States. The intervention was a quasi-experimental character modeling and goal setting program. New Lifestyles NL-1000 activity monitors were used to assess number of steps taken and MVPA by the participants. Fruit and vegetable consumption was measured by direct observation. School day steps, MVPA, and FV consumption were recorded at baseline, intervention, and during a 10-week follow-up. There were not differences between groups at baseline. Steps and MVPA were statistically significantly (P < .05; Δ = ~2500 steps and ~5 minutes of MVPA) greater in the intervention compared with the control group over time. Fruit and vegetable consumption was not significantly (P = .308) greater in the intervention compared with the control group over time. Students in the intervention school were significantly more active than students in the control school during the intervention phase and at follow-up. The findings reported here would suggest that character modeling and goal setting can increase PA among elementary aged children but did not increase FV consumption.

Impact of Ocular Compatible Lipoids and Castor Oil in Fabrication of Brimonidine Tartrate Nanoemulsions by 33 Full Factorial Design.

BACKGROUND: Brimonidine Tartrate (BRT) is used in the treatment of glaucoma. Brimonidine tartrate nanoemulsion was fabricated in this research work to enhance the permeability through barriers and faster onset of action and therapeutic effect. OBJECTIVE: To fabricate an ocular compatible nanoemulsion of brimonidine tartrate by using surfactant and co-surfactants. METHODS: The experimental work involved compatibility studies by using FTIR, DSC and crystallinity study by XRD. The prepared nanoemulsion was studied by photon correlation spectroscopy by Malvern S90 for the particle size analysis and characterized for Z average value (d.nm.) and PDI. Further studies were conducted by laser light scattering technique by delsanano common and TEM. RESULTS: The study demonstrated that the formulations BN2, BN3, BN10 demonstrated the z average value of 19.48, 22.14,26.50 d.nm. With 0.337, 0.270, 0.289 PDI respectively, the formulae BN2, BN3, BN10 demonstrated the distribution average diameter (nm) of 376.8 + 258.4, 542.8 + 494.4, 398.8 + 263.9 with the diameter of 267.5, 298.5, 272.7, respectively. The zeta potential of BN10 was -21.26 mV and other parameters such as TEM and drug release studies were also reported. CONCLUSION: The nanoemulsion of brimonidine tartrate was prepared successfully by using castor oil, Lipoid S75 (Fat free soybean phospholipids with 70% phosphatidylcholine), Lipoid E80 (Egg phospholipids with 80% phosphatidylcholine) and PF- 68. The optimised formula demonstrated the lower droplet size, satisfactory zeta potential, and high drug loading and reproducible drug release profile. Brimonididne taratarate is reported in various recent patents for various applications and is the potential candidate for future therapy. Nanoemulsion is widely explored as potential alternatives for conventional ophthalmic formulation based approaches. It enhances the ocular bioavailability by reducing the drug protein binding, increasing the corneal resident time, enhancing the drug permeability and providing a sustained drug release.It reported a significant increase in therapeutic efficacy for various chronic ocular disease states of both the anterior and posterior ocular segments.