title: Feasibility and acceptability of active book clubs in cancer survivors - an explorative investigation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  While the increasing number of people surviving cancer is promising, the long-term health effects warrant broad, innovative interventions. We investigated the feasibility and acceptability of a 24-week intervention called 'Active Book Club' comprising audio book listening, pedometer walking and supervised book club meetings.
  
  
  METHODS
  An exploratory and descriptive design was applied. Qualitative data included baseline and post-intervention focus group interviews as well as post-intervention individual interviews. The study also included data on retention, attendance, and adherence. Seventeen self-referred cancer survivors with various oncological and sociodemographic backgrounds were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight (47%) participants completed the entire intervention. Their median attendance at the book club meetings was eight [interquartile range (IQR) 6-9] of nine possible, and they reached the walking step goal in a median of 11 (IQR 7-12) of the first 12 weeks, and seven (IQR 1-10) of the last 12 weeks. The qualitative analysis revealed five themes including: Motivation and expectations (i.e. reasons for enrollment), Attentive listening (i.e. experiences of the audio book format), Affected by the story (i.e. experiences of the content of the books), Group involvement (i.e. experiences of the book club meetings) and Walking regularly (i.e. experiences of the walking program). Overall, findings revealed that while audio books may bring new meaning to physical activity and serve as a relief from own concerns, certain stories may affect some individuals negatively. The substantial dropout rate, however, suggested that modification is necessary and that patient involvement in choice of literature may be critical to enhance acceptability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 'Active Book Club' represents a novel psychosocial intervention potentially supporting physical activity adoption and mental health in cancer survivors. However, several issues related to feasibility and acceptability including choice of literature genre, format and supervision of book club meetings need to be considered before larger scale clinical trials are initiated.
authors.affiliation: a The University Hospitals' Centre for Health Research (UCSF), Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet , Copenhagen , Denmark.
authors.forename: Nanna Maria
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Hammer
authors.affiliation: b Department of Oncology and Palliation , Copenhagen University Hospital, Nordsjaellands Hospital , Hillerød , Denmark.
authors.forename: Lisbeth Kofoed
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Egestad
authors.affiliation: c Department of Neurology , Copenhagen University Hospital, Nordsjaellands Hospital , Hillerød , Denmark.
authors.forename: Susanne Grøn
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.affiliation: a The University Hospitals' Centre for Health Research (UCSF), Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet , Copenhagen , Denmark.
authors.forename: Eik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bjerre
authors.affiliation: d Oncology Department , Finsen Centre, Rigshospitalet , Copenhagen , Denmark.|e Unit of Survivorship Research , Danish Cancer Society Research Center , Copenhagen , Denmark.
authors.forename: Christoffer
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Johansen
authors.affiliation: f University of Copenhagen, Rigshospitalet, Intensive Care Unit 4131 , Copenhagen , Denmark.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Egerod
authors.affiliation: g College of Nursing, University of South Carolina , Columbia , SC , USA.
authors.forename: Bernardine
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.affiliation: a The University Hospitals' Centre for Health Research (UCSF), Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet , Copenhagen , Denmark.|h Department of Public Health, Section of Social Medicine , University of Copenhagen , Copenhagen , Denmark.
authors.forename: Julie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Midtgaard
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001519:Behavior; D001877:Books; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010358:Patient Participation / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011932:Reading; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000458:organization & administration; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*