A virtual dance sport class for cancer patients: the trainer perspective.

PURPOSE: Due to the corona, pandemic classes with physical activity for cancer patients were postponed. For an ongoing program with ballroom dancing classes for patients and their partners, the training was switched to a digital format. METHODS: We evaluated the training by structured written interviews of the trainers including an open report part concerning the development and realization of the project, the teaching and training concept and their experiences as trainers. RESULTS: 5 trainers reported data from 6 different classes including 65 participants. All in all, digital dance training is feasible and a substantial part of the participants of former face-to-face training took part. Yet, digital training imposes some restrictions to the movements taught and the interactions with and between the participants. Trainers have to invest time in a new conception of the training and additional time in guiding participants with lower experience in technical issues. CONCLUSION: Participants in virtual training rooms need more support and social interactions in digital training are less and different from ballroom lessons and trainers which puts more strain on trainers to motivate cancer patients.

Evaluation of a Virtual Dance Class for Cancer Patients and Their Partners during the Corona Pandemic-A Real-World Observational Study.

BACKGROUND: During the corona pandemic, all courses on physical activity for cancer patients were canceled. The aim of our study was to evaluate the feasibility of switching dancing classes for patients and their partners to online classes. METHODS: Patients and partners from courses at four different locations who consented to the online course offer were asked to fill in a pseudonymous questionnaire on access to the training, technical challenges, acceptance and well-being (1-item visual analog scale from 1 to 10) before and after the training. RESULTS: Sixty-five participants returned the questionnaire (39 patients and 23 partners). Fifty-eight (89.2%) had danced before, and forty-eight (73.8%) had visited at least one course of ballroom dancing for cancer patients before. The first access to the online platform was difficult for 39 participants (60%). Most participants (57; 87.7%) enjoyed the online classes, but 53 (81.5%) rated them as less fun than the real classes as direct contact was missing. Well-being increased significantly after the lesson and remained improved for several days. CONCLUSION: Transforming a dancing class is feasible for participants with digital experience and goes along with technical difficulties. It is a substitute for real classes if mandatory and improves well-being.

Ballroom dancing as physical activity for patients with cancer: a systematic review and report of a pilot project.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity has positive effects on cancer patients. Dancing addresses diverse bio-psycho-social aspects. Our aim was to assess the evidence on ballroom dancing and to develop the setting for a pilot project. METHODS: We performed a systematic review, extracted the data and designed a pilot training based on standard curricula. We included cancer patients during or after therapy. Training duration was 90 min with one regular pause and individual pauses as needed. RESULTS: We retrieved two systematic reviews and six controlled studies. Types of dancing varied. Only one study used ballroom dancing. Dance training might improve well-being, physical fitness, fatigue and coping during and after therapy. Yet, evidence is scarce and data to derive the effect size are lacking; 27 patients and their partners took part in the pilot training. Patients and partners needed more time to learn the steps than is planned in regular ballroom classes. Participants were very satisfied with the adaptation of the training to their physical strength and estimated the training in a sheltered group. No side effects occurred. In spite of a high rate of participants reporting fatigue, 90 min of physical activity with only a few minutes of rest were manageable for all participants. CONCLUSION: Ballroom dancing may offer benefits for patients with respect to quality of life. Cancer patients prefer sheltered training setting and curricula of regular ballroom classes must be adapted for cancer patients. Strict curricula might reduce motivation and adherence and exclude patients with lower or variable fitness.

Effect of ballroom dancing on the well-being of cancer patients: Report of a pilot project.

The present study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of ballroom dancing for patients with cancer and their partners, and develop a simple method for assessing its effects on the patients' well-being. A total of 11 pairs (14 patients and 8 healthy partners) participated. Participation was open, and there were no restrictions in terms of the type of cancer, treatment or comorbidities. An anonymous standardized questionnaire allowing participants to rate their well-being on a visual analogue scale (VAS) from 1 to 10 was used. This rating was repeated at defined time points over 1 week. No adverse events occurred during the study, and the teaching methods appeared to be feasible for the patients. The well-being of all patients remained stable or increased during the class, and returned to the initial level within the following days. A total of 3 patients with a low well-being rating prior to class experienced a strong improvement during the class, which continued until the last day of observation for 2 patients. These results confirm the effectiveness of a VAS-based method for the evaluation of ballroom dancing in patients with different types of cancer undergoing different treatments, and its positive effect on the patients' well-being.