The association between physicians' exercise counseling and physical activity in patients with cancer: Which roles do patients' satisfaction and previous physical activity levels play?

Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine the association between physicians' exercise counseling and post-diagnosis physical activity (PA) in patients with cancer by investigating the mediating role of patients' satisfaction with exercise counseling as well as the moderating role of patients' previous PA. Methods The study sample consisted of 1002 people with cancer (503 breast, 265 prostate, and 234 colorectal cancer). Participants reported their pre- and post-diagnosis moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA) levels, indicated whether their physician had covered different steps of exercise counseling as defined by the 5A framework (Assess, Advise, Agree, Assist, and Arrange) and rated th…