Increasing Physical Activity in Children During Cancer Treatment: A Qualitative Study of Parents’ Perspectives

This qualitative study explored barriers, facilitators, and preferences for promoting physical activity (PA) in children undergoing cancer therapy by interviewing 36 parents of children aged 4-15 years, on-therapy or less than 1 year post-therapy at three hospitals. Key barriers included safety concerns, risk of infection, and treatment side effects. Facilitators included social support and oncologist recommendations for PA. Parents preferred interventions that were flexible, varied, gamified, low-burden, and tailored to the child. Parents also expressed a desire for family involvement, connection to other parents, online social media groups, and activity trackers. These findings can inform PA interventions for children undergoing cancer therapy.