Believe In You (BIY): Miami Community-based Exercise Program Impact On Physical Activity Levels In Adult Cancer Survivors

In 2020, less than 50% met the American Cancer Society (ACS) Physical Activity Guidelines on aerobic or resistance training, and only 15% met both. The Believe in You (BIY) training program was created as part of the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Survivorship Program. It aims to help cancer survivors and their support person prepare for and complete a 5 K race or 15-mile bike ride while promoting longer-term physical activity behavior changes to meet the ACS Physical Activity Guidelines for Cancer Survivors. PURPOSE: To assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary impact of a pilot hybrid (in-person and online) program among cancer survivors and support persons physical activity levels. METHODS: Adult cancer survivors and their support persons enrolled in the 19-week resistance and aerobic exercise training program from October 2022 to February 2023. Exercise training included 15 in-person and 13 remote sessions, plus four complementary nutrition classes. Primary outcome was adherence and retention (attendance and exit surveys) with exploratory outcomes of physical activity (Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire), body composition (BIA), hand grip strength, sit-and-reach, and blood pressure. RESULTS: Nine participants (six survivors, three support persons) were enrolled, and eight (five survivors, three support persons) completed the program. Average age was 55 years with an average BMI of 29. In exit interviews, 100% indicated high feasibility and acceptability, noted feeling supported and engaged with high satisfaction of in-person training sessions. Attendance of in-person sessions was 56% and remote was 26%. Total leisure activity score increased at the end of the program (83.3% were active, 16.7% were moderately active, and 0% were insufficiently active) compared to baseline (44.4% were active, 22.2% were moderately active, and 22.2% insufficiently active). No changes were observed in the other exploratory parameters. CONCLUSIONS: The BIY program was feasible, acceptable, and preliminarily improved physical activity in cancer survivors and their care person over the course of the 19-week program. Year 2 of the program started in September 2023 with 98 cancer survivors and support persons enrolled in the program for the February 2024 race.