Endometrial cancer is a type of cancer that affects the lining of the uterus and primarily occurs in postmenopausal women. Patients who have been diagnosed with endometrial cancer often undergo treatment such as surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy. However, a recent qualitative study published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics & Gynecology shed light on an important aspect of follow-up care for these patients – the lack of information about lifestyle improvements and behavior changes.
Researchers, including PhD-candidate Anne M. de Korte, MSc, conducted interviews with 18 patients in the Netherlands who had stage 1 or 2 endometrial cancer to understand their perspectives on lifestyle changes post-treatment. The study revealed that patients often did not receive adequate information about healthy habits and behavior modifications during their follow-up care, highlighting a gap in the support provided to these individuals.
One of the key insights from the study was the importance of recognizing a cancer diagnosis as a „teachable moment“ for patients. This term refers to the idea that individuals facing a health crisis may be more motivated to make positive changes in their lifestyle and health behaviors. However, healthcare providers (HCPs) identified various barriers to providing lifestyle support, including a lack of knowledge about behavior change techniques and strategies for counseling patients on healthy habits.
The study identified several barriers and facilitators to adopting a healthy lifestyle among patients with endometrial cancer. Patients reported finding success in making small, gradual changes to their habits rather than aiming for drastic transformations. Social support emerged as a significant motivator for behavior changes, with patients feeling more encouraged when they shared their goals with friends and family.
However, patients also faced challenges such as a lack of knowledge about appropriate lifestyle changes, physical discomfort, and limitations that affected their confidence and motivation. Additionally, patients noted a lack of communication from healthcare providers about lifestyle interventions, with some expressing frustration at being treated differently due to their weight.
To address these barriers and support patients in making healthy lifestyle changes, the researchers recommended several intervention techniques. These included providing education on the health consequences of certain behaviors, using persuasion to motivate patients, offering training in incremental changes, restructuring the environment to promote healthy habits, and enabling patients to set clear goals and plans for behavior change.
The findings from this study will be utilized to develop a new lifestyle intervention specifically tailored for patients with endometrial cancer. The goal is to test the effectiveness of these strategies in a randomized controlled trial and ultimately improve the adherence of patients to healthy lifestyle recommendations.
In conclusion, the study highlights the importance of addressing lifestyle changes in the follow-up care of patients with endometrial cancer. By understanding the barriers and facilitators to adopting healthy habits, healthcare providers can better support these individuals in maintaining a healthy lifestyle post-treatment. Ultimately, focusing on lifestyle improvements is crucial for the long-term well-being of patients with endometrial cancer and can reduce the risk of comorbidities associated with overweight and obesity.
