It is now well established that exercise is highly beneficial in managing the side effects and symptoms of cancer diagnosis and treatment. However, historically, people living with advanced cancer (incurable or metastatic disease) have not been included in research studies, and rehabilitation and exercise prescriptions have been underutilized despite the potential to improve physical function and quality of life. This is particularly true for people with bone metastases due to concerns over skeletal complications caused or exacerbated by physical activity, such as bone fractures or increased pain.
To address this gap in care, WHRI member and Cancer Exercise Research Principal Investigator Dr. Kristin Campbell established the International Bone Metastases Exercise Working Group, which published “Exercise Recommendations for People with Bone Metastases” in 2022, and the Bone Metastases and Exercise Knowledge Mobilization Team.
As it is well established that the publication of clinical guidelines is insufficient to change practice, Dr. Campbell led the formation of the Bone Metastases and Exercise Knowledge Mobilization Team in 2023 to create the Bone Metastases and Exercise (BME) Hub, which launched at the end of May 2024.
This innovative Hub provides a wealth of resources designed to educate and empower users. Patients can find informative handouts and webinars to understand the benefits of incorporating exercise into their treatment plans. Additionally, a directory of qualified exercise professionals is available to guide patients within their communities.
We interviewed Dr. Campbell to hear about her motivations for engaging in knowledge mobilization, lessons learned, and future goals of this work.
Dr. Kristin Campbell, Principal Investigator
What inspired the creation of the Bone Metastases Exercise Hub?
The inspiration for the BME Hub stemmed from the well-established recognition that clinical guidelines or recommendations on their own are insufficient to change practice. After the publication of the 2022 “Exercise Recommendations for People with Bone Metastases” by the International Bone Metastases Exercise Working Group, we knew we needed to do more. Our aim was to bridge the gap between research and clinical practice by creating a centralized resource that not only disseminated evidence-informed exercise guidelines, but also supported their practical application through education for people living with cancer and healthcare professionals.
What were some of the enablers for the project?
The key enabler for the BME Hub project was the strong collaborations with potential end users, who provided invaluable insights into their needs and experiences. People living with or at risk for bone metastases, health care providers, physiotherapists and exercise professionals all recognize the uncertainty that everyone has around what movement is safe and beneficial for people living with bone metastases. As a result we had great engagement with end users willing to be part of the Bone Metastases and Exercise Knowledge Mobilization Team in order to help in co-designing the hub to ensure it met their diverse needs effectively.
Second, we were fortunate to receive a grant from the Canadian Cancer Society to form the Bone Metastases and Exercise Knowledge Mobilization Team. As part of the project we developed a novel partnership with the Cancer Information Team at the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS). That allowed us to learn from their experience in how to create successful patient education materials. Also through this partnership, the resulting tools we created could also be posted right on the Canadian Cancer Society website, which is a trusted source for cancer information in Canada.
CAN YOU SHARE SOME LESSONS LEARNED DURING THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE HUB
One of the key lessons learned during the development of the BME Hub was the importance of inclusivity and collaboration. Engaging with a wide range of stakeholders from the outset facilitated a more comprehensive understanding of the needs and challenges faced by individuals with bone metastases. Additionally, ongoing feedback was crucial for refining the hub’s offerings to ensure they were both practical and beneficial. We did a lot of work, and many edits in an effort to get wording and images right, and make navigating the site easy and user friendly. We really appreciated the help of the communications team from the Department of Physical Therapy who helped us design the website.
How do you envision the bme hub evolving in the future?
Looking ahead, the BME Hub is expected to continue evolving with future additions including expanding the Hub’s educational offerings, with a professional development course currently in the making. We have also received many requests to translate the materials into different languages. Initially, we had English and French, but are working on Spanish, Dutch, German and Swedish translations at the moment.
What can the WHRI community do?
The WHRI community can play a vital role in furthering the impact of the BME Hub by promoting its resources within their networks. The target audience is people living with or at risk for bone metastases, their supporters, physicians and nurse practitioners working in cancer care and also in the community, physiotherapists and clinical exercise physiologists providing rehabilitation and exercise programming in the public health system or private practice, other allied health providers and nurses in the community, and health care administrators. So basically everyone! Additionally, any feedback from the WHRI community would be invaluable for continuous improvement of the BME Hub.