More than 700 publications show the potential of oncological sports and exercise therapy. This leads to the reduction of side effects, the improvement of therapy results and thus to the improvement of patients' health during and after cancer treatment. For this reason, there is an increasing demand for the integration of exercise promotion and therapy as a supportive measure in interdisciplinary oncological treatment. However, nationwide, the provision of specific services is inadequate. Studies show that oncology patients are not sufficiently informed about the benefits and possibilities of exercise and are therefore not very physically active.
Patients and oncology professionals describe a variety of disease- and therapy-related as well as structural barriers that stand in the way of regular implementation of or advice on physical activity. Based on the current literature, conditions conducive to the widespread implementation of exercise therapy are, above all, the early, treatment-accompanying information and motivation of those affected to exercise by specialist staff and linked to oncological care, as well as low-threshold access to (existing) adequate and quality-assured exercise therapy/movement promotion programs. This implies the need for qualified advice and referral for the promotion of physical activity.
The MOVE-ONKO project therefore aims to establish an interdisciplinary and multi-professional care structure through which patients can be identified, advised and referred to an individually suitable exercise therapy program. With the help of specially developed training programs, healthcare professionals (so-called movement pilots) and specialists (so-called movement experts) are to be qualified for this purpose. A specially developed communication platform and an app that can later be used throughout the OnkoAktiv network will be used to manage the range of care on offer. The new care structure will initially be set up at seven top oncology centers in three model regions in Germany (Rhine-Main-Neckar, Southern Black Forest, Berlin-Dresden). This care structure can then be adapted accordingly and used in organ centers and by established oncological care providers, with the aim of being established nationwide in standard care.
The following research questions arise:
- To what extent can the planned structure and range of services for MOVE-ONKO be established or expanded in oncology centers of excellence and at regional oncology care providers?
- Which barriers and support factors influence the establishment and expansion?
- To what extent can utilization by patients be improved?
- How do perceived experiences and outcomes develop among the patients included in the exercise program?
- What framework conditions are needed/created for sustainable implementation?
To answer these questions, the project will be continuously evaluated using a mixed-methods approach. In addition to the effectiveness of the care pathway, structures and processes for sustainable implementation will be assessed. For this purpose, a survey of n=2,240 adult cancer patients and qualitative interviews with service providers and key persons are planned. Patients will be surveyed at study inclusion, after four weeks, after twelve weeks (completion of the exercise therapy program) and after 24 weeks. The surveys of service providers and key persons took place before the start of the intervention. Further surveys are planned during the implementation phase in the clinical/oncological centers and during the implementation phase with regional oncological care providers.
The project is funded by the German Cancer Aid (DKH) as part of the funding priority program "Model implementation of structures for sports and exercise therapy for cancer patients".
