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A Community-Based Partnership to Promote Exercise Among Cancer Survivors: Lessons Learned

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Abstract

Purpose

We conducted a randomized controlled trial in partnership with a community-based organization (CBO) to examine the effects of peer mentoring to promote exercise among cancer survivors. At the end of the trial, to prepare for future program implementation on a larger scale, we obtained input from the CBO on the key elements that influenced the decision to collaborate, facilitators and challenges during the trial, and recommendations for program marketing.

Methods

Structured telephone interviews were conducted with ten stakeholders at various job levels within the CBO. Notes of the interviews were coded, and themes were extracted independently by two study members.

Results

Five themes were identified: costs of the partnership, its benefits, importance of communication, match of the trial goals with the CBO’s mission, and achieving a balance between research and job tasks. Techniques to address these themes and improve implementation of the program are described.

Conclusions

The themes identified can guide evidence-based programs in planning implementation that involves partnerships with CBOs.

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Acknowledgments

This study was funded by a grant from the National Cancer Institute (R01 CA132854) to the first author. We thank the interviewees for their participation and sharing their perspectives. We also thank Gail Agronick, Ph.D. and Lucy Balanca, B.A. for their contributions. All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1975, as revised in 2000. Informed consent was obtained from all patients for being included in the study.

Conflict of Interest

Authors Bernardine Pinto, Marissa Waldemore, and Rochelle Rosen declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Miriam Hospital, Coro West, 3rd Floor, Suite 309, 164 Summit Ave, Providence, RI, 02906, USA

    Bernardine M. Pinto, Marissa Waldemore & Rochelle Rosen

  2. W. Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, USA

    Bernardine M. Pinto

  3. Brown School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, USA

    Rochelle Rosen

  4. Centers for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine, The Miriam Hospital, Coro West, 3rd Floor, Suite 309, 164 Summit Ave, Providence, RI, 02906, USA

    Bernardine M. Pinto

Authors
  1. Bernardine M. Pinto
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  2. Marissa Waldemore
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  3. Rochelle Rosen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Bernardine M. Pinto.

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Pinto, B.M., Waldemore, M. & Rosen, R. A Community-Based Partnership to Promote Exercise Among Cancer Survivors: Lessons Learned. Int.J. Behav. Med. 22, 328–335 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-014-9395-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12529-014-9395-5

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