Understanding Exercise Preferences, Barriers, and Facilitators for LGBTQIA2S+ Individuals Living with and Beyond Cancer

Rana, Benny

Understanding Exercise Preferences, Barriers, and Facilitators for LGBTQIA2S+ Individuals Living with and Beyond Cancer

dc.contributor.advisor	Culos-Reed, S. Nicole
dc.contributor.author	Rana, Benny
dc.contributor.committeemember	Bridel, William
dc.contributor.committeemember	Yang, Lin
dc.contributor.committeemember	MacRae, J Helen
dc.contributor.committeemember	Marshall, Zack
dc.date	2023-11
dc.date.accessioned	2023-07-26T16:31:30Z
dc.date.available	2023-07-26T16:31:30Z
dc.date.issued	2023-07-21
dc.description.abstract	Purpose: The purpose of this study was to understand overall physical activity (PA) experiences and to identify the preferences, barriers, and facilitators for exercise among LGBTQIA2S+ individuals living with and beyond cancer. Methods: A qualitative descriptive design was employed for this study. Efforts were made to recruit individuals representing a diverse range across the target population in terms of sexual orientation and gender identity, as well as cancer diagnosis. Convenience and snowball sampling methods were used for recruitment, including outreach to cancer and LGBTQIA2S+ support groups, social media posts, and participants in current exercise oncology studies. Inclusion criteria encompassed individuals who identify as LGBTQIA2S+, have been diagnosed with any form of cancer, are on or off treatment or any stage of cancer survivorship, are over 18 years old, and have proficiency in English. Data collection involved the use of a questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. Data analysis was grounded in an Interpretive Description (ID) approach, wherein the interview data was analyzed and conceptualized using thematic description. Results: Through outreach to 49 organizations, 11 participants were recruited. The interviews with the participants yielded three main themes: 1) value of exercise in the cancer care journey, 2) perceptions of discrimination and prejudice, and perceptions of body image, and 3) LGBTQIA2S+ exercise oncology programming. These themes shed light on the participants’ experiences with exercise oncology programming and PA preferences, barriers, and facilitators. Conclusion: This study contributed to our understanding of PA and exercise oncology experiences of LGBTQIA2S+ individuals living with and beyond cancer. The findings can inform the development of future PA and exercise oncology resources, such as educational materials and programming, to address current participation barriers and foster inclusivity within this population.
dc.identifier.citation	Rana, B. (2023). Understanding exercise preferences, barriers, and facilitators for LGBTQIA2S+ individuals living with and beyond cancer (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.
dc.identifier.uri	https://hdl.handle.net/1880/116797
dc.identifier.uri	https://dx.doi.org/10.11575/PRISM/41639
dc.language.iso	en
dc.publisher.faculty	Graduate Studies
dc.publisher.institution	University of Calgary
dc.rights	University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.
dc.subject	Exercise Oncology
dc.subject	LGBTQIA2S+
dc.subject	Barriers
dc.subject	Facilitators
dc.subject	Preferences
dc.subject.classification	Oncology
dc.title	Understanding Exercise Preferences, Barriers, and Facilitators for LGBTQIA2S+ Individuals Living with and Beyond Cancer
dc.type	master thesis
thesis.degree.discipline	Kinesiology
thesis.degree.grantor	University of Calgary
thesis.degree.name	Master of Science (MSc)
ucalgary.thesis.accesssetbystudent	I do not require a thesis withhold – my thesis will have open access and can be viewed and downloaded publicly as soon as possible.