Exploring optimal group dynamics and their feasibility during a live-remote exercise program for cancer survivors: an international concept mapping study
PURPOSE: Live-remote supervised exercise helps cancer survivors reduce the negative side effects of their treatment, and group dynamics are an integral aspect of successful rehabilitation outcomes. In this international group concept mapping study, we investigated which aspects of peer interaction and trainer behaviour participants consider important and how feasible those preferences are according to exercise professionals. METHODS: Participants who completed a 12-week live-remote exercise programme for cancer survivors were recruited in 5 European countries and Australia. Participants generated statements in response to prompts about patient interaction and trainer behaviour. The next group of participants sorted statements into thematically similar clusters and/or rated them by perceived importance. Exercise specialists rated the same statements according to feasibility. Data were analysed using multidimensional scaling, hierarchical cluster analysis, and qualitative interpretative analysis. RESULTS: A total of 120 participants and 14 exercise specialists participated. The patient interaction prompt generated 45 statements organized into five clusters (mean importance rating 3.29; mean feasibility 3.61). The subjective experience of belonging to the group was the highest rated cluster for this prompt. The trainer behaviour prompt generated 56 unique statements organized into seven clusters (mean importance 3.82; mean feasibility 4.13). High-quality individual and group level instructions were rated as most important for this prompt. CONCLUSIONS: Participants and trainers agreed on the relative priorities, and all key aspects were rated as feasible, suggesting favourable conditions for implementation. Adequate instruction and supervision by trainers and a warm, welcoming atmosphere among participants were considered the most important aspects of live-remote training.
Authors
- Mark Trevaskis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9078-0180)
- Catarina Garcia (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1918-6231)
- Martijn Matthias Stuiver (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7794-7767)
- David Binyam (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8708-9719)
- Jon Belloso
- Anouk E. Hiensch (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6216-2609)
- Laurien M. Buffart (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8095-436X)
- Eva Maria Zopf (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6250-0041)
- Nadira Gunasekara (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-5847-7086)
- Alberto Jorge Alves (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9484-7349)
- Poorna Anandavadivelan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3471-1578)
- Anne Maria May (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0643-3790)
- Iñaki Ruiz‐Pérez (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6744-2976)
- Yvonne Wengström (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8317-7829)
- Neil K. Aaronson (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2574-4850)
- Karen Steindorf (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5215-5651)
- Chloe Rezola‐Pardo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9715-4564)
- Dorothea Clauss (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0003-0752-5301)
- Alina Kias (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6201-5131)
- Esther C. E. de Jongh (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-3322-7310)
- Pedro Antunes
Institutions
- Karolinska University Hospital (SE)
- German Sport University Cologne (DE)
- German Cancer Research Center (DE)
- Utrecht University (NL)
- Heidelberg University (DE)
- Radboud University Medical Center (NL)
- Karolinska Institutet (SE)
- The Netherlands Cancer Institute (NL)
- University Medical Center Utrecht (NL)
- Cabrini Hospital (AU)
- Biogipuzkoa Health Research Institute (ES)
- National Center for Tumor Diseases (DE)
- Amsterdam University Medical Centers (NL)
- Ministry of Health (PT)
- GaituzSport Foundation (ES)
- Australian Catholic University (AU)
- University of Amsterdam (NL)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Supportive Care in Cancer
- Published
- 2026-11-07
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-026-11439-7
- Primary Topic
- Cancer survivorship and care
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Australian Government
- European Commission
- HORIZON EUROPE Framework Programme
- National Health and Medical Research Council