Physical exercise habits, lifestyle behaviors, and motivation to change among men with prostate cancer: a cross-sectional study

Purpose: To describe the physical exercise (PE) habits, lifestyle, and motivation to change toward healthier behaviors in patients newly diagnosed with prostate cancer (PCa).

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in an Italian hospital setting. Men newly diagnosed with PCa were consecutively invited to participate in a structured interview that was conducted either in person or by telephone.

Results: The mean age of the 40 participants was 70.5 ± 6.6 (range 50-84). Most participants (65%) reported they were physically active, but more than half of the sample did not reach the recommended PE level. However, 40% of participants would be interested in participating in an exercise program. Only 10% of participants were current smokers, but 90% drank alcohol, and 62.5% were overweight/obese. Almost all participants were not willing to change their habits.

Conclusions: A high proportion of Italian men are insufficiently active when diagnosed with PCa. Moreover, even when exposed to behavioral risk factors, they are not willing to change their lifestyle. Health-care professionals who deal with men newly diagnosed with PCa should take advantage of the teachable moment and apply strategies that support patients' motivation to exercise and adherence to healthier lifestyles.

Trial registration: The study was prospectively registered in ClinicalTrial.gov NCT03982095 on June 11, 2019.