Built and Natural Environment Barriers and Facilitators to Physical Activity in Rural, Suburban, and Small Urban Neighborhoods

Oncol Nurs Forum. 2019 Sep 1;46(5):545-555. doi: 10.1188/19.ONF.545-555.

Abstract

Purpose: To explore built and natural environment barriers and facilitators to walking for exercise in cancer survivors.

Participants & setting: Cancer survivors (N = 7) living in rural, suburban, and small urban neighborhoods in central Virginia.

Methodologic approach: The authors used a qualitative descriptive design with photovoice to explore the cancer survivors' experience with residential walkability.

Findings: The following three themes were identified from the data.

Implications for nursing: Clinicians should consider an evaluation of the built and natural environment to support walking in cancer survivors. These findings may be used in conjunction with known individual-level barriers to physical activity to develop guidance for oncology nurses to help survivors safely achieve physical activity goals.

Keywords: cancer survivors; exercise; physical activity; walking.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Built Environment*
  • Cancer Survivors* / psychology
  • Climate
  • Cues
  • Environment Design*
  • Exercise*
  • Fatigue / etiology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Motivation
  • Neoplasms / psychology
  • Neoplasms / therapy
  • Qualitative Research
  • Residence Characteristics*
  • Rural Health
  • Safety
  • Suburban Health
  • Urban Health
  • Virginia
  • Walking