Poster Presentation Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2026

“When you know better, you do better.” A Qualitative Exploration of Facilitators and Barriers of Adherence Among Breast Cancer Survivors Participating in a Telehealth Lifestyle Intervention (146351)

Shaun Kirsten 1 , Sim Yee (Cindy) Tan 2 3 4 , Emily Price 1 , Gemma Collett 1 , Jasmine Yee 1 3 , Haryana Dhillon 1 , Janette Vardy 2 3 4
  1. Psycho-Oncology Co-operative Research Group (PoCoG), School of Psychology,, University of Sydney, Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales , Australia
  2. Concord Cancer Centre , Concord Hospital, Concord, NSW, Australia
  3. Faculty of Health and Medicine, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW
  4. Australian Research Centre for Cancer Survivorship , Faculty of Medicine & Health, UNSW Sydney , Sydney, Australia

Background: Interventions that promote the adoption and maintenance of a healthy diet and physically active lifestyle during and after neo/adjuvant chemotherapy have been shown to improve health-related outcomes among breast cancer survivors (BCS). Yet access to these services remains limited. Telehealth has been shown to be a safe, feasible, and accessible alternative to in-person interventions. Little is known about the barriers and facilitators to lifestyle interventions adherence while undergoing neo/adjuvant chemotherapy.

Aim: To explore the factors influencing the uptake of healthy diet and physical activity behaviours among early-stage BCS participating in a telehealth-delivered lifestyle intervention during neo/adjuvant chemotherapy.

Methods: We used an inductive qualitative approach, conducting semi-structured interviews post-interventions and at 6-month follow-up with BCS who had completed a 14-week diet and exercise intervention delivered via virtual platform during neo/adjuvant chemotherapy. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analysed inductively using Reflexive Thematic Analysis.

Results: We interviewed 35 BCS post-intervention and 15 at 6-month follow-up. Four themes were identified: (1) self-awareness; (2) psychosocial impacts; (3) feasible integration into daily routines; and (4) treatment-related obstacles. Overall, fluctuating treatment-related side-effects imposed physical and motivational barriers to intervention adherence. Conversely, tailored health recommendations alongside supervised and group-based exercise facilitated ongoing adherence. Enhancing participant self-efficacy, providing flexible social and systematic support, coupled with realistic management of adverse treatment-related side effects were identified as important components to support adherence.

Conclusions: This study identified key intervention components that must be targeted to successfully enhance adherence by addressing the barriers to initiation and long-term maintenance of a healthy lifestyle.  The insights elicited in the present study may inform the development of future telehealth lifestyle interventions during chemotherapy.