Moving On: Acceptability of a personalised mHealth lifestyle self-management intervention for cancer survivors.

Background: A significant proportion of cancer survivors are overweight. However, weight problems are infrequently addressed in oncology aftercare. A lifestyle self-management intervention using mobile technology (mHealth) and behaviour change techniques (BCTs) was delivered to improve health outcomes in cancer survivors with a BMI over 25. This study aimed to examine the acceptability of that intervention.  Methods: In the context of a 2-arm RCT, semi-structured interviews were carried out to assess retrospective acceptability of the intervention from the perspective of the recipients. Thirteen participants (2 males) were interviewed. The theoretical framework of acceptability of healthcare interventions was used as a topic guide. Qualitative analysis of transcripts was performed using thematic coding.  Findings: Themes of Trust, Motivation, Programme Support, and Social Support were identified. Results suggest strong support for the acceptability of the intervention. Most held a positive attitude towards the intervention and enjoyed many of its elements. In particular, SMS contact relating to physical activity goals, and self-monitoring using the Fitbit wearable activity monitor were rated positively. When asked about intervention coherence participants understood the aim of the programme to be ‘moving on’ from cancer, rather than a sole focus on weight management. The intervention was perceived to have high efficacy and low burden.  Discussion: Based on the coherence of responses with theorised aspects of intervention acceptability, we are confident that this intervention using mHealth and BCTs to improve health outcomes is acceptable to cancer survivors. Future studies are needed to assess the feasibility of delivering the intervention in clinical practice.