Development of a pre- and postoperative physical activity promotion program integrated in the electronic health system of patients with bladder cancer (The POPEYE study): An intervention mapping approach

INTRODUCTION: Uptake of sufficient physical activity before and after radical cystectomy is important to improve physical and psychosocial outcomes in bladder cancer (BC) patients.

METHODS: In this paper, we describe the development of an evidence-based and theory-informed intervention, guided by the steps of the Intervention Mapping approach, to promote physical activity before and after radical cystectomy in patients with BC.

RESULTS: The intervention is a home-based physical activity program. The preoperative timeframe of the intervention is 4 or 12 weeks, depending on administration of neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Postoperatively, the intervention will last for 12 weeks. The intervention consists of a digital oncological platform (DOP), several consultations with healthcare professionals, personal booklet and follow-up phone calls. DOP includes information, diaries, visual representation of progress, mailbox, videos of peers and treating physician explaining the benefits of physical activity, photo material of exercises and a walking program with an activity tracker. Individual goals will be set and will be self-monitored by the patient through DOP. Patients will receive alerts and regular feedback.

CONCLUSIONS: Intervention Mapping ensures transparency of all intervention components and offers a useful approach for the development of behaviour change interventions for cancer patients and for translation of theories into practice.