Tenth International Conference on Health, Wellness & Society

Abstract

Physical activity can improve the physical and mental health functioning of cancer survivors. However, approximately one of three cancer survivors in the United States do not participate in any leisure-time physical activity. Rural cancer survivors tend to be less physically active than their urban counterparts. The purpose of this study was to assess the social support, self-efficacy, and decisional balance for exercise of rural cancer survivors in Hawai‘i who were physically active and those physically inactive. Adults 18 years of age and older were eligible for participation if diagnosed with breast, prostate, or colo-rectal cancer 12 months or more prior to study participation, and already completed cancer treatment. Fifty-six (56) cancer survivors were screened for study participation. Eleven (11) did not meet the study inclusion criteria, twelve (12) met the study inclusion criteria but declined participation and eight (8) could not be contacted for assessments. Twenty-five (25) cancer survivors completed study assessments. Self-report data were collected using the Social Support and Exercise Survey, Self-Efficacy for Exercise Behavior, and Decisional Balance for Exercise measures. Social support for exercise from friends was significantly higher for cancer survivors who were physically active than for cancer survivors who were physically inactive. Social support for exercise from family, self-efficacy for exercise, and decisional balance were not significantly different between groups. Recruiting friends to participate in exercise with rural cancer survivors may help to increase the physical activity of rural cancer survivors.