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ABSTRACT
Introduction
This systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative studies provides an overview of barriers and facilitators that breast cancer patients experience in weight management interventions.
Methods
We included qualitative studies describing barriers and facilitators for weight management interventions as experienced by adult breast cancer patients after the completion of initial treatment . The data was extracted and using thematic analysis.
Results
After analysis, eleven themes were determined. Six of those themes could be linked to the Attitude, Social Influence and self Efficacy (ASE)-model. Physical and mental benefits, anticipated regret and a lack of motivation were linked to attitude. Integrating a weight management programme in daily life, stigma and fears were linked to self-efficacy. With regard to the social influence determinant, encouragement and discouragement by family members were developed as a theme. Four additional themes were conducted related to weight management behaviour; external barriers, economic barriers, cultural barriers and physical barriers. In addition, integrating weight management in cancer care was described as a separate theme.
Conclusions
Several disease specific issues, including feeling stigmatized after cancer treatment and treatment-related side effects and peer-support should be given specific attention to maximize adherence of weight management programmes.
Acknowledgments
The authors would also like to thank Erica Wilthagen, clinical librarian at the Antoni van Leeuwenhoek-The Netherlands Cancer institute for assisting in the literature search.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.
Additional information
Funding
Notes on contributors
Sheena Tjon A Joe
Sheena Tjon A Joe Clinical research that benefits the patient is the main focus in my work. Nutrition and lifestyle can make a great impact on the oncological patients journey and improve quality of life in all stages of disease. My goal is to implement nutrition and lifestyle in standard care and to provide patients with accurate information about these subjects.
Sara Verschure-Dorsman
Sara Verschure-Dorsman As a nutritionist and researcher, my main goal is to perform patient-centred clinical research to improve clinical care in oncology. The aim of my research is to survey the most important barriers and facilitators for weight management, in order to provide woman with breast cancer with better support and better overall quality of life.
Erica A. Wilthagen
E.A. Wilthagen, works as a medical information specialist for the Scientific Information Service at the Netherlands Cancer Institute. She also chairs the professional association of biomedical information specialists (BMI), and is involved in various BMI committees.
Martijn Stuiver
Martijn Stuiver The main goals of my research are to understand how functional impairments caused by cancer(-treatment) impact peoples’ functioning in daily life, and consequently their quality of life; how these impairments can be measured; and how they can be prevented or mitigated by targeted and timely offered rehabilitation interventions, exercise in particular. In addition, I aim to support implementation of successful interventions into usual care, through research into the perspectives of patients and health care professionals, and via innovative care implementation projects.