Expanding Cancer Exercise Referral Network

Hub CEPs led outreach to rural and regional cancer centres, hospitals, primary care networks, universities/research teams, and community healthcare clinics (e.g., cancer physiatry clinics) to build the HCP network. HCPs were able to join the EXCEL network at any time, either via our outreach or on their own accord. HCPs included oncologists, physiatrists, primary care physicians, nurses, social workers, physiotherapists, registered dieticians, patient navigators, and care coordinators. Outreach efforts include educational presentations, emails, and phone calls to share resources and information. Specifically, HCP in-person and online education sessions were offered to disseminate general exercise-oncology information (i.e., exercise guidelines and currently available exercise oncology resources) and EXCEL-specific referral information. Regular email outreach included emailing cancer centre contacts with recruitment materials for EXCEL, including posters and brochures (see Supplemental Files S1 and S2). Email outreach to the HCP network occurred six weeks prior to a new EXCEL program, with additional emails sent every two weeks until the program start date to remind them about the referral process (see sample referral form in Supplemental File S3). Finally, phone calls were also made to HCPs at least twice a year, providing information about EXCEL and addressing any referral needs. Markers of adoption in building the HCP network included the number and type of HCPs (i.e., HCP professional/clinical role and organization) and details from the HCP organizations that received educational/referral materials (i.e., brochures and information sessions provided by the EXCEL team).