Decisional balance, self-leadership, self-efficacy, planning, and stages of change in adopting exercise behaviors in patients with stomach cancer: A cross-sectional study

Purpose: Previous studies have suggested the benefits of regular exercise in motivating the survivors of cancer; however, most survivors are insufficiently active, showing high rates of nonadherence to physical activity guidelines. Using the I-Change model, this study sought to determine the association of decisional balance and self-efficacy for exercise, planning, and self-leadership with the stages of change in exercise behavior among patients with stomach cancer. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in February 2021 and included 145 patients diagnosed with primary stomach cancer via quota sampling in South Korea. Sociodemographics, comorbidity, decisional balance for exercise, self-efficacy for exercise, planning, self-leadership, and stages of change in exercise behavior were assessed. Results: Of the participants, 4% were in the precontemplation stage of exercise behavior, 10% contemplation, 37% preparation, 23% action, and 27% maintenance. The male sex (p = 0.043), higher self-efficacy for resisting relapse (p < 0.0001), higher coping planning (p = 0.029), and higher self-leadership for behavior awareness and volition (p = 0.023) were associated with more readiness for changes in exercise behavior. Conclusions: From the results obtained using the I-Change model, self-efficacy for resisting relapse to previous habits, coping planning, and behavior awareness and volition were associated with more readiness for changes in exercise behavior. These findings may help reduce stomach cancer survivors’ nonadherence to physical activity guidelines.