title: Characteristics of attitude and recommendation of oncologists toward exercise in South Korea: a cross sectional survey study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of the present study was to examine 1) characteristics and attitudes of oncologists toward exercise and toward recommending exercise to their patients, 2) association among oncologists' own physical activity levels, exercise recommendations, and their attitudes toward recommending exercise.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 167 oncologists participated in this survey study (41 surgeons, 78 medical oncologists, 25 radiation oncologists, and 21 others). Most oncologists included in the study treat more than one type of cancer, including colorectal, gastric, breast, lung, and liver cancer. To analyze the data, the one-way ANOVA, and t-test were used. All data were indicated for mean, SD, and proportions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most oncologists agreed that exercise is beneficial (72.8%) and important (69.6%), but only 39.2% of them agreed that exercise is safe, and only 7.2% believed that cancer patients manage to exercise during cancer treatment. Forty-six percentage of the surveyed oncologists recommended exercise to their patients during the past month. The average amount of participation in physical activity by oncologists who participated in the study was 139.5 ± 120.3 min per week, and 11.4% of the study participants met the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) guidelines. Oncologists' own physical activity levels were associated with their attitudes toward recommending exercise. Belief in the benefits of exercise in the performance of daily tasks, improvement of mental health, and the attenuation of physical decline from treatment were the three most prevalent reasons why oncologists recommend exercise to their patients. Barriers to recommending exercise to patients included lack of time, unclear exercise recommendations, and the safety of patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oncologists have favorable attitudes toward exercise and toward recommending exercise to their patients during treatment. However, they also experience barriers to recommending exercise, including lack of time, unclear exercise guidelines for cancer patients, and concerns regarding the safety of exercise.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport and Leisure Studies, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-Ro, Seodaemun-Gu, Seoul, 120-749, Korea. hobbang1922@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Ji-Hye
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport and Leisure Studies, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-Ro, Seodaemun-Gu, Seoul, 120-749, Korea. andy00001111@hanmail.net.
authors.forename: Minsuk
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport and Leisure Studies, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-Ro, Seodaemun-Gu, Seoul, 120-749, Korea. yoonyj@yonsei.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Yong Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport and Leisure Studies, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-Ro, Seodaemun-Gu, Seoul, 120-749, Korea. Wakeford@yonsei.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Chul Won
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA. lee.w.jones@duke.edu.
authors.forename: Lee W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: Division of Breast Cancer Surgery, Department of Surgery, Breast Cancer Clinic, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 120-752, Korea. skim@yuhs.ac.
authors.forename: Seung Il
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, Colorectal Cancer Clinic, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 120-752, Korea. namkyuk@yuhs.ac.
authors.forename: Nam Kyu
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Sport and Leisure Studies, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-Ro, Seodaemun-Gu, Seoul, 120-749, Korea. jjeon@yonsei.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Justin Y
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Jeon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008495:Medical Oncology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D010820:Physicians; D056910:Republic of Korea; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires