“I’m hooked on e-cycling, I can finally be active again”: perceptions of e-cycling as a physical activity intervention during breast cancer treatment
“I’m hooked on e-cycling, I can finally be active again”: perceptions of e-cycling as a physical activity intervention during breast cancer treatment
Electrically-assisted bicycles (e-bikes) are a means through which to increase individual physical activity (PA) and overcome some commonly reported barriers to engaging in conventional cycling. Fatigue is a common side effect to breast cancer treatment, and the rate of PA engagement drops significantly following a breast cancer diagnosis. The aim of this qualitative study was to examine perceptions of e-cycling as a means of increasing PA in this population. Twenty-four participants (mean age = 57.88 (standard deviation 10.8), 100% female) who have had a breast cancer diagnosis, completed two semi-structured interviews via Zoom. One interview was conducted prior to an e-bike taster session and a second, after the session. Taster sessions were conducted by certified cycling instructors in the community. Interviews were conducted between December 2021 and May 2022. Data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically using NVivo 12 software. An inductive and deductive approach to analysis was adopted. Five themes were generated: (1) Perceived role of e-bikes during treatment, (2) The relationship between e-bikes and fatigue, (3) Cancer-specific considerations, (4) Is e-cycling ‘enough’?, and (5) Optimizing the intervention. Negative perceptions of e-bikes noted before the taster session were altered following riding an e-bike. The multiple levels of assistance made cycling manageable and less impacted by fatigue, thereby enabling individuals to re-establish previous cycling habits. E-cycling may be a suitable option to increase PA behavior amongst individuals being treated for breast cancer, with the potential to overcome many of the barriers of conventional cycling. Enabling this population to trial an e-bike elicits positive physical and psychological responses that may help to promote future engagement.
breast cancer, e-bikes, electrically-assisted bicycles, facilitators, qualitative, barriers
Way, Kirsty Mollie
f2ae4376-1fc6-443b-be33-7a642e744776
Bourne, Jessica Elizabeth
f3c97f52-1c09-47ff-9f47-51d25ad67557
Armstrong, Miranda Elaine Glynis
8fccec54-e464-4dfc-bee6-876ea1240eb8
March 2023
Way, Kirsty Mollie
f2ae4376-1fc6-443b-be33-7a642e744776
Bourne, Jessica Elizabeth
f3c97f52-1c09-47ff-9f47-51d25ad67557
Armstrong, Miranda Elaine Glynis
8fccec54-e464-4dfc-bee6-876ea1240eb8
Way, Kirsty Mollie, Bourne, Jessica Elizabeth and Armstrong, Miranda Elaine Glynis
(2023)
“I’m hooked on e-cycling, I can finally be active again”: perceptions of e-cycling as a physical activity intervention during breast cancer treatment.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20 (6), [5197].
(doi:10.3390/ijerph20065197).
Abstract
Electrically-assisted bicycles (e-bikes) are a means through which to increase individual physical activity (PA) and overcome some commonly reported barriers to engaging in conventional cycling. Fatigue is a common side effect to breast cancer treatment, and the rate of PA engagement drops significantly following a breast cancer diagnosis. The aim of this qualitative study was to examine perceptions of e-cycling as a means of increasing PA in this population. Twenty-four participants (mean age = 57.88 (standard deviation 10.8), 100% female) who have had a breast cancer diagnosis, completed two semi-structured interviews via Zoom. One interview was conducted prior to an e-bike taster session and a second, after the session. Taster sessions were conducted by certified cycling instructors in the community. Interviews were conducted between December 2021 and May 2022. Data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed thematically using NVivo 12 software. An inductive and deductive approach to analysis was adopted. Five themes were generated: (1) Perceived role of e-bikes during treatment, (2) The relationship between e-bikes and fatigue, (3) Cancer-specific considerations, (4) Is e-cycling ‘enough’?, and (5) Optimizing the intervention. Negative perceptions of e-bikes noted before the taster session were altered following riding an e-bike. The multiple levels of assistance made cycling manageable and less impacted by fatigue, thereby enabling individuals to re-establish previous cycling habits. E-cycling may be a suitable option to increase PA behavior amongst individuals being treated for breast cancer, with the potential to overcome many of the barriers of conventional cycling. Enabling this population to trial an e-bike elicits positive physical and psychological responses that may help to promote future engagement.
Text
ijerph-20-05197-v2
- Version of Record
More information
Accepted/In Press date: 10 March 2023
e-pub ahead of print date: 15 March 2023
Published date: March 2023
Additional Information:
Funding Information:
This work was supported by Cancer Research UK, grant number C18281/A29019.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 by the authors.
Keywords:
breast cancer, e-bikes, electrically-assisted bicycles, facilitators, qualitative, barriers
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Local EPrints ID: 484824
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/484824
ISSN: 1660-4601
PURE UUID: 89fdb0df-d3dc-49af-9d83-ac666f6b24e1
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Date deposited: 22 Nov 2023 17:43
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 05:58
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Author:
Kirsty Mollie Way
Author:
Jessica Elizabeth Bourne
Author:
Miranda Elaine Glynis Armstrong
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