Table 1 Description of the mixed method design
Research question | Procedure | Data collection | Data analysis | Expected results | Data integration | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Phase 1 | What is observed among medical staff in terms of knowledge of and support for PA practice? | Case analysis per hospital | Interviews with health professionals using snowball sampling and document analysis | Content analysis using Nvivo software | Information on PA knowledge and support from medical staff, application of prescription requirements and orientation of patients to PA practice | Complete quantitative data on social support, public policies and organizational factors that encourage PA practice |
Phase 2 | What are the psychological and social factors influencing PA practice from cancer diagnosis to remission? | Cohort study on 680 patients included at diagnosis (T0; + 6 months; + 1 year) | Self-reported questionnaire | Descriptive, multivariate, multilevel analysis using SPSS, SAS and AMOS | Patient profiles for PA practice, theoretical model of interaction over time between social and psychological variables supporting PA practice | Quantitative data underpins the main data analysis Identification of patient profiles for the phase 3 study |
Phase 3 | What is the evolution of PA practice, PA preferences and what are the main barriers / facilitators from the time of diagnosis? | Qualitative study | 30 patients with specific profiles identified in phase 2 | Content analysis using Nvivo software | A list of factors, organized in the socio-ecological model to calibrate interventions | Broadening of the quantitative data and more detailed analysis of interactions with interpersonal and political variables |