Journal article
"It Will Only Work If Everyone is on Board": A Needs and Context Assessment to Inform Exercise Oncology Implementation Within a Public Healthcare Organisation
Asia-Pacific journal of clinical oncology, Vol.Advanced Access
11-Aug-2026
PMID: 42581405
Appears in UniSC Supported Open Access Outputs
Abstract
Introduction: Exercise has well-established benefits across the cancer continuum for people living with and beyond cancer, yet the exercise oncology field faces a research-to-practice gap. Understanding the factors that influence implementation in any given context is essential to ensure implementation strategies have the greatest likelihood of success. The study mapped onsite exercise oncology services, staff-reported implementation barriers and facilitators, organisational readiness, and experiences reported by people living with or beyond cancer, across a large public healthcare organisation.
Methods: Staff and people living with and beyond cancer across cancer care centres within the public healthcare organisation completed an online survey. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and manifest content analysis.
Results: Across 10 regions, 115 participants completed the survey (59 staff and 56 people living with and beyond cancer). Although both groups valued and viewed exercise as important, organisation-wide and region-specific constraints were evident, particularly the absence of onsite exercise professionals and absent or unclear referral pathways. Among people living with and beyond cancer, 54% received an exercise discussion and 13% received a referral.
Conclusion: Across the organisation, strong support for exercise did not translate into action, as mainly outer and inner setting barriers restricted routine discussions, referrals and service delivery. Although regions within the same organisation shared several contextual factors, region-specific conditions that hindered or facilitated implementation were present. Findings reinforce that the development of implementation strategies and plans depends on a clear understanding of the context in which they will occur. These findings are informing an implementation plan in a pilot region.
Details
- Title
- "It Will Only Work If Everyone is on Board": A Needs and Context Assessment to Inform Exercise Oncology Implementation Within a Public Healthcare Organisation
- Authors
- Georgia L White (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine CoastMary A Kennedy (Author) - Edith Cowan UniversityBryan A Chan (Author) - University of the Sunshine CoastHattie Wright (Author) - University of the Sunshine CoastGrace L Rose (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast
- Publication details
- Asia-Pacific journal of clinical oncology, Vol.Advanced Access
- Publisher
- Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
- DOI
- 10.1111/ajco.70158
- ISSN
- 1743-7563
- PMID
- 42581405
- Copyright note
- This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non-commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made.© 2026 The Author(s). Asia-Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.
- Organisation Unit
- Healthy Ageing Research Cluster; School of Health; School of Health - Nutrition & Dietetics; Cancer Research Cluster; School of Health - Sports & Exercise Science; Centre for Bioinnovation
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991250585402621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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