“It Is More of a Literal Life or Death Consideration”: Reducing Sedentary Behavior in Endometrial Cancer Survivors

Introduction: Incidence rates of endometrial cancer are increasing, and survivors often experience chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease. Increasing physical activity and reducing sedentary behavior (SB) can lower cardiovascular disease risk, yet most endometrial cancer survivors remain inactive and engage in high levels of SB. With no tailored interventions currently available for endometrial cancer survivors that target SB, this represents a gap in knowledge. Thus, identifying barriers and facilitators on each level of the social-ecological model (SEM) is key to reducing SB. This study aimed to examine the perceived barriers and facilitators of reducing SB among endometrial cancer survivors at each level of the SEM to inform future intervention development. Methods: Endometrial cancer survivors participated in virtual semi-structured focus groups. Activity levels were measured using accelerometry. Data were analyzed using the Sort and Sift, Think and Shift approach (ResearchTalk, Inc.). Results: Sixteen participants (age: 63 ± 7 yr, body mass index: 35.8 ± 7 kg·m −2 , time since diagnosis: 5.8 ± 4.0 month, 88% White) identified six themes: three barriers (physical limitations, lack of support, and external barriers like time) and two facilitators (internal motivation and opportunity/interest in physical activity). Individual preference was both a barrier and a facilitator. Conclusion: Addressing both barriers and facilitators across the SEM can guide the development of tailored interventions that promote SB reduction in endometrial cancer survivors. Future interventions must promote self-regulation, integrate social support, and involve healthcare providers to effectively reduce SB and improve survivors’ health.