A longitudinal study of exercise barriers in colorectal cancer survivors participating in a randomized controlled trial

Background: The Colorectal Cancer and Home-Based Physical Exercise (CAN-HOPE) trial compared the effects of a 16-week home-based exercise program to usual care on quality of life in colorectal cancer survivors. Purpose: In this study, we report the weekly exercise barriers from the exercise group. Methods: Participants randomized to the exercise group (N = 69) were asked to report their exercise on a weekly basis by telephone. Those participants not achieving the minimum weekly exercise prescription (3 times per week of 30 min of moderate intensity exercise) were asked for a primary exercise barrier. Results: We obtained 1,073 (97.2%) weeks of adherence data out of a possible 1,104 (i.e., 69 x 16). Participants did not meet the minimum exercise prescription in 39.2% (421/1,073) of the weeks. We obtained an exercise barrier in 83.8% (353/421) of these cases. Overall, participants reported 37 different exercise barriers; the three most common were lack of time/too busy, nonspecific treatment side effects, and fatigue. The top 7 to 10 barriers accounted for 70% to 80% of all missed exercise weeks. Conclusions: These findings may have utility for promoting exercise in this population both inside and outside of clinical trials.