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Development of tele-lifestyle-based multidisciplinary survivorship program for gynecologic oncology practice
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Development of tele-lifestyle-based multidisciplinary survivorship program for gynecologic oncology practice

Nathalie D. McKenzie, Nnamdi I. Gwacham, Julie W. Pepe, Sarfraz Ahmad, James E. Kendrick and Robert W. Holloway
Oncologist, Vol.30(3)
2025

Abstract

Adult Aged Cancer Survivors Female Genital Neoplasms, Female Humans Life Style Middle Aged Pilot Projects Surveys and Questionnaires Survivorship anxiety Article beautician behavior change body image cancer survivor certification clinical article counselor depression dietitian feasibility study female genital tract cancer food quality gynecologic oncologist human lifestyle longitudinal study multidisciplinary team nonparametric test patient referral pelvic floor perception physical activity physiotherapist pilot study preoperative exercise prospective study questionnaire sleep hygiene social connectedness stress management training female genital tract tumor therapy Exercise Quality of Life Telemedicine Mental Health Psychology
We assessed the recruitment and retention of a short 8-week telemedicine-based group peri-habilitation program for gynecologic cancer survivors. Multidisciplinary team included: a gynecologic oncologist with additional board certification by the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, cancer-specific nutritionist, culinary medicine chef, physical therapist, exercise physiologists, mental health counselor, body image aesthetician, pelvic floor therapist, and sex therapist. Pre- and post-self-administered questionnaires assessed conformity to lifestyle medicine pillars and a general medical symptom questionnaire (MSQ). Recruitment was suboptimal (11.7%). Neither provider referrals nor flyers sufficiently directed patients to the program, but those that completed the program expressed meaningful impact on lifestyle behavioral change and improved quality-of-life across multiple parameters including MSQ (40.0 vs 20.75) and 85% participants reported compliance with recommendations. This pilot program suggests that a multidisciplinary tele-lifestyle-based survivorship program beyond just diet and exercise to improve quality-of-life in gynecologic cancer survivors, though novel and well received, needs physician buy-in and enhanced marketing strategies. © The Author(s) 2025. Published by Oxford University Press.
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https://doi.org/10.1093/oncolo/oyaf033View
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