Psychosocial Factors That May Help Make Exercise Programs For Prostate Cancer Patients Self-Sustaining: Two Case Studies

Abstract PurposeProstate cancer (PCa) patients benefit from regular exercise, but it is difficult for patients to maintain an exercise regime. We examined two exercise programs that have proven to be self-sustaining with the goal of identifying features they share that may contribute to their success.MethodsWe compared the FC Prostata football (soccer) league in Denmark and the “Butts in a Boat” (BIAB) dragon-boating team in Canada. The FC Prostata project coordinator and the BIAB leaders provided information on the programs’ histories and structures.ResultsBoth programs are team-based with regular, intense exercise at their core. In both cases, social activities spontaneously evolved, starting with the men going out for food and/or drinks after practices. The sustainability of these programs appears to be driven by the regular socialization that is linked to the fitness activities.ConclusionsOur two case studies suggest that exercise programs for prostate cancer patients may have a good chance of being self-sustaining, if they are: 1) centered around intense exercise, 2) of a team nature, 3) structured to promote egalitarianism and avoid one-on-one competition within teams, yet 4) have some competitions between teams.Informal socialization organized by patients after team practice appears particularly important for building fellowship and strengthening patients’ commitment to exercise for themselves and social support for others.