Stifled Motivation, Systemic Neglect: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Inactivity in Post-Chemotherapy Cancer Survivors in the Middle East and North Africa Region.

Background

Physical activity provides substantial survival and quality-of-life benefits for cancer survivors, yet participation remains suboptimal globally, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions. This study represents the first comprehensive examination of physical activity barriers and facilitators among Tunisian cancer survivors.

Methods

This cross-sectional study recruited 120 cancer survivors ≥3 months post-chemotherapy completion from University Hospital Farhat Hached, Sousse, Tunisia (October-December 2024). Participants completed validated questionnaires via structured telephone interviews: the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF), the Physical Activity Barriers After Cancer scale (PABAC), the Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS), and the Patient Activation Measure (PAM-13). Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis, correlation analyses, and multivariable regression modeling with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons.

Results

Participants (mean age 51.89 ± 10.2 years, 73.9% female) demonstrated significant physical activity declines post-chemotherapy: moderate activity decreased from 31.1% to 1.7% (p < 0.001), median intensity declined from 297 to 44 MET-min/week (p < 0.001). Mean PABAC score was 29.72 ± 5.13, with cognitive barriers predominating (2.85 ± 0.58). Fatigue was universal (100%), with 21% reporting severe fatigue (FAS ≥ 35). Only 26.1% received exercise guidance from healthcare professionals. PABAC demonstrated excellent predictive performance for physical inactivity (AUC = 0.805, 95%CI: 0.724-0.887). Independent predictors of higher barriers included fatigue severity (β = 0.466, p < 0.001), low patient activation (β = -0.091, p = 0.010), and advanced cancer stage (β = 1.932, p = 0.008).

Conclusions

Tunisian cancer survivors experience substantial, multidimensional barriers to physical activity, with inadequate healthcare guidance representing a critical system-level gap. Findings support the development of culturally adapted, multidisciplinary interventions that target modifiable cognitive and symptom-related barriers, while enhancing patient activation and healthcare provider engagement.