Allied health professional's self-reported competences and confidence to deliver physical activity advice to cancer patients at a single Centre in England.

Abstract

Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) are well placed to deliver physical activity advice but this is currently not routine clinical practice. Increasing evidence demonstrates physical activity can improve quality-of-life for people affected by cancer, enable behaviour change, improve survival and reduce long-term treatment effects. We aimed to understand AHPs' current knowledge and practice in advising about physical activity. AHPs' self-reported knowledge, competency and training needs in managing physical effects of cancer, and the merits of physical activity data were collected <i>via</i> an online survey. The survey link was cascaded electronically to all NHS and NHS-affiliated AHPs working across several generic and non-cancer-specific healthcare interfaces across one city in England. Eighty AHPs responded. Forty-one percent of AHPs had patients with current or past diagnoses of cancer. Overall, AHPs reported low confidence in giving physical activity advice, with physiotherapists the most confident. 60% of respondents identified training needs concerning the impact of cancer. Although the merits of physical activity for people affected by cancer is clearly evidenced, low levels of AHP confidence and competence in discussing this topic limit patients' awareness and access to services. Addressing this confidence and competence has potential to improve patient outcome.