- Overview
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Physical activity is safe and beneficial for children, adolescents, and young adults diagnosed with cancer. However, few physical activity opportunities are available for young people diagnosed with cancer. This is partly because cancer is rare in young people, and so it is hard to create opportunities that can be accessed by everyone.
In my research, I create and test physical activity interventions that consider the needs of young people diagnosed with cancer. I work with children, adolescents, and young adults diagnosed with cancer, their parents, cancer support organizations, exercise professionals, healthcare providers, and researchers to create online physical activity interventions that are safe and accessible. I implement and test these physical activity interventions in pragmatic trials across Canada. My work seeks to improve the health of young people diagnosed with cancer through the inclusion of physical activity.
- Publications
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Co-Producing the International Pediatric Oncology Exercise Guidelines (iPOEG) Toolkit with End-Users
Communications in Kinesiology
Emma McLaughlin and Amanda Wurz and Gregory Guilcher and Jennifer Zwicker and S Nicole Culos-Reed
DOI: 10.51224/cik.2024.55
01/2024An Evaluation of Racial and Ethnic Representation in Research Conducted with Young Adults Diagnosed with Cancer: Challenges and Considerations for Building More Equitable and Inclusive Research Practices
Current Oncology
DOI: 10.3390/curroncol31040166
2024Researcher and patient experiences of co-presenting research to people living with systemic sclerosis at a patient conference: content analysis of interviews
Research Involvement and Engagement
DOI: 10.1186/s40900-024-00546-6
2024Physical activity during COVID-19 in people with systemic sclerosis: A Scleroderma Patient-centred Intervention Network COVID-19 Cohort longitudinal study
Journal of Scleroderma and Related Disorders
DOI: 10.1177/23971983241241593
2024Participant Bias in Community-Based Physical Activity Research: A Consistent Limitation?
Journal of Physical Activity and Health
DOI: 10.1123/jpah.2023-0267
2024Rural-urban differences in distress, quality of life, and social support among Canadian young adult cancer survivors: A Young Adults with Cancer in Their Prime (YACPRIME) study
Journal of Rural Health
DOI: 10.1111/jrh.12774
2024The association of resilience and positive mental health in systemic sclerosis: A Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network (SPIN) cohort cross-sectional study
Journal of Psychosomatic Research
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2024.111648
2024Exploring the Feasibility, Acceptability, and Potential Benefits of the Mom Movement Intervention (MOMmi)
Nursing for Women's Health
DOI: 10.1016/j.nwh.2024.01.006
2024Experiences of young adults affected by cancer within an 8-week yoga intervention delivered by videoconference: a qualitative interview study
Annals of Medicine
DOI: 10.1080/07853890.2024.2309275
2024Yoga Therapy as an Intervention to Improve Patient-Reported Outcomes Among Adults After Treatment for Cancer: Preliminary Findings From a Trial Using Single-Subject Experimental Design
Integrative Cancer Therapies
DOI: 10.1177/15347354241233517
2024Making sense of the cancer journey: Pediatric cancer survivors’ and their parents’ autobiographical memories
Journal of Cancer Survivorship
DOI: 10.1007/s11764-023-01384-3
2024Describing and Exploring Coping Strategies among Those Diagnosed with Cancer as an Adolescent or Young Adult: A YACPRIME Study
Current Oncology
DOI: 10.3390/curroncol31020050
2024A qualitative interview study exploring the psychological health impacts of the SPIN-CHAT program among people with systemic sclerosis at the onset of COVID-19: perceptions of trial participants and research team members
Disability and Rehabilitation
DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2023.2169775
2024A qualitative study exploring inactive older adults’ experiences in a group-based hiking program
Wellbeing, Space and Society
DOI: 10.1016/j.wss.2024.100207
2024Exploring research team members’ and trial participants’ perceptions of acceptability and implementation within one videoconference-based supportive care program for individuals affected by systemic sclerosis during COVID-19: a qualitative interview study
Translational Behavioral Medicine
Amanda Wurz and Kelsey Ellis and Delaney Duchek and Mannat Bansal and Marie-Eve Carrier and Lydia Tao and Laura Dyas and Linda Kwakkenbos and Brooke Levis and Ghassan El-Baalbaki and Danielle B Rice and Yin Wu and Richard S Henry and Laura Bustamante and Sami Harb and Shannon Hebblethwaite and Scott B Patten and Susan J Bartlett and John Varga and Luc Mouthon and Sarah Markham and Brett D Thombs and S Nicole Culos-Reed
DOI: 10.1093/tbm/ibac091
07/2023An Investigation of Social Status among Adolescents and Young Adults Who Have Been Diagnosed with Cancer in Canada
Cancers
Fiona S. M. Schulte and Sharon H. J. Hou and Jacqueline L. Bender and Joshua Tulk and Amanda Wurz and Anika Petrella and Catherine M. Sabiston and Norma D’Agostino and Karine Chalifour and Geoff Eaton and Sheila N. Garland
DOI: 10.3390/cancers15133436
06/2023Exploring feasibility, perceptions of acceptability, and potential benefits of an 8-week yoga intervention delivered by videoconference for young adults affected by cancer: a single-arm hybrid effectiveness-implementation pilot study
Pilot and Feasibility Studies
Amanda Wurz and Emma McLaughlin and Kimberly Hughes and Kelsey Ellis and Amy Chen and Lauren Cowley and Heather Molina and Delaney Duchek and Maximilian Eisele and S. Nicole Culos-Reed
DOI: 10.1186/s40814-023-01244-y
03/2023Describing Supportive Care Programming Access and Comfort Gathering through the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Observational Mixed Methods Study with Adults Affected by Cancer
Current Oncology
Amanda Wurz and Anna Janzen and Kelsey Ellis and Iris Lesser and Nafeel Arshad
DOI: 10.3390/curroncol30030198
02/2023Describing and exploring physical activity experiences among adults with cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic: a mixed-methods survey study
Journal of Psychosocial Oncology
DOI: 10.1080/07347332.2023.2204483
2023Exploring pain among young people who have completed treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia: experiences of youth and caregivers
Supportive Care in Cancer
DOI: 10.1007/s00520-023-07888-z
2023Physical activity and physical fitness assessments in adolescents and young adults diagnosed with cancer: a scoping review
Supportive Care in Cancer
DOI: 10.1007/s00520-023-08008-7
2023Patient–researcher co-presentation of research results to people living with systemic sclerosis
The Lancet Rheumatology
DOI: 10.1016/S2665-9913(23)00063-2
2023Boxing with Parkinson’s Disease: findings from a qualitative study using self-determination theory
Disability and Rehabilitation
Jennifer Brunet and Jenson Price and Amanda Wurz and Meghan McDonough and Julie Nantel
DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2021.1891465
07/2022Editorial: Exercise and childhood cancer
Frontiers in Pediatrics
DOI: 10.3389/fped.2022.1097836
2022“I feel like my body is broken”: Exploring the experiences of people living with long COVID
medRxiv
Wurz, A. and Culos-Reed, S.N. and Franklin, K. and DeMars, J. and Wrightson, J.G. and Twomey, R.
DOI: 10.1101/2022.01.20.22269617
2022From laboratory to community: Three examples of moving evidence-based physical activity into practice in Canada
Health and Social Care in the Community
Wurz, A. and Bean, C. and Shaikh, M. and Culos-Reed, S.N. and Jung, M.E.
DOI: 10.1111/hsc.13596
2022Effects of a support group leader education program jointly developed by health professionals and patients on peer leader self-efficacy among leaders of scleroderma support groups: a two-arm parallel partially nested randomised controlled trial
Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases
DOI: 10.1186/s13023-022-02552-x
2022"I feel like my body is broken": exploring the experiences of people living with long COVID
Quality of Life Research
Wurz, A. and Culos-Reed, S.N. and Franklin, K. and DeMars, J. and Wrightson, J.G. and Twomey, R.
DOI: 10.1007/s11136-022-03176-1
2022Exploring Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms and Posttraumatic Growth among Children Living beyond Cancer and Their Parents Using an Actor–Partner Interdependence Model
Cancers
Wurz, A. and Patton, M. and Merz, E.L. and Hou, S.H.J. and Cho, S. and Schulte, F.
DOI: 10.3390/cancers14030704
2022Exploring Yoga Instructors’ Experiences Delivering Yoga to Children and Adolescents Affected by Cancer or Blood Disease
International Journal of Yoga Therapy
DOI: 10.17761/2022-d-21-00068
2022Exploring the Effects of Yoga Therapy on Heart Rate Variability and Patient-Reported Outcomes After Cancer Treatment: A Study Protocol
Integrative Cancer Therapies
DOI: 10.1177/15347354221075576
2022The physicAl aCtivity Counselling for young adult cancEr SurvivorS (ACCESS) trial: A protocol for a parallel, two-arm pilot randomized controlled trial
PLoS ONE
Brunet, J. and Price, J. and Srikanthan, A. and Gillison, F. and Standage, M. and Taljaard, M. and Beauchamp, M.R. and Reed, J. and Wurz, A.
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0273045
2022Physical activity behaviors and attitudes among women with an eating disorder: a qualitative study
Journal of Eating Disorders
Jennifer Brunet and Francis Del Duchetto and Amanda Wurz
DOI: 10.1186/s40337-021-00377-w
12/2021A proof-of-concept sub-study exploring feasibility and preliminary evidence for the role of physical activity on neural activity during executive functioning tasks among young adults after cancer treatment
BMC Neurology
Amanda Wurz and Gladys Ayson and Andra M. Smith and Jennifer Brunet
DOI: 10.1186/s12883-021-02280-y
12/2021Preliminary Evidence of Improvement in Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Survivors’ Brain Health Following Physical Activity: A Proof-of-Concept Sub-Study
Brain Plasticity
Maude Lambert and Amanda Wurz and Andra M. Smith and Zhuo Fang and Jennifer Brunet
DOI: 10.3233/BPL-210124
10/2021The international Pediatric Oncology Exercise Guidelines (iPOEG)
Translational Behavioral Medicine
Amanda Wurz and Emma McLaughlin and Conné Lategan and Carolina Chamorro Viña and Sarah L Grimshaw and Lotta Hamari and Miriam Götte and Sabine Kesting and Francesca Rossi and Patrick van der Torre and Gregory M T Guilcher and Krista McIntyre and S Nicole Culos-Reed
DOI: 10.1093/tbm/ibab028
10/2021Understanding adolescents’ and young adults’ self-perceptions after cancer treatment in the context of a two-arm, mixed-methods pilot randomized controlled physical activity trial
Supportive Care in Cancer
Amanda Wurz and Jenson Price and Jennifer Brunet
DOI: 10.1007/s00520-020-05974-0
08/2021Synthesizing the literature on physical activity among children and adolescents affected by cancer: evidence for the international Pediatric Oncology Exercise Guidelines (iPOEG)
Translational Behavioral Medicine
Amanda Wurz and Emma McLaughlin and Conné Lategan and Kelsey Ellis and S Nicole Culos-Reed
DOI: 10.1093/tbm/ibaa136
04/2021Current Evidence and Directions for Future Research in eHealth Physical Activity Interventions for Adults Affected by Cancer: Systematic Review (Preprint)
Manuel Ester and Maximilian Eisele and Amanda Wurz and Meghan H McDonough and Margaret McNeely and S Nicole Culos-Reed
DOI: 10.2196/preprints.28852
03/2021Advancing the Field of Pediatric Exercise Oncology: Research and Innovation Needs
Current Oncology
Amanda Wurz and Emma McLaughlin and Carolina Chamorro Vina and Sarah Grimshaw and Lotta Hamari and Miriam Götte and Sabine Kesting and Francesca Rossi and Patrick van der Torre and Gregory M. T. Guilcher and Krista McIntyre and S. Nicole Culos-Reed
DOI: 10.3390/curroncol28010061
01/2021An experimental study revisiting the link between media attention and breast cancer concern: exploring the role of cognitive fusion
Women and Health
DOI: 10.1080/03630242.2021.2002999
2021Current Evidence and Directions for Future Research in eHealth Physical Activity Interventions for Adults Affected by Cancer: Systematic Review
JMIR Cancer
Ester, M. and Eisele, M. and Wurz, A. and McDonough, M.H. and McNeely, M. and Culos-Reed, S.N.
DOI: 10.2196/28852
2021The Scleroderma Patient-centered Intervention Network Self-Management (SPIN-SELF) Program: protocol for a two-arm parallel partially nested randomized controlled feasibility trial with progression to full-scale trial
Trials
DOI: 10.1186/s13063-021-05827-z
2021Moving Online? How to Effectively Deliver Virtual Fitness
ACSM's Health and Fitness Journal
DOI: 10.1249/FIT.0000000000000643
2021Effects of a multi-faceted education and support programme on anxiety symptoms among people with systemic sclerosis and anxiety during COVID-19 (SPIN-CHAT): a two-arm parallel, partially nested, randomised, controlled trial
The Lancet Rheumatology
DOI: 10.1016/S2665-9913(21)00060-6
2021Childhood Cancer Survivorship: Daily Challenges.
Pediatric clinics of North America
DOI: 10.1016/j.pcl.2020.07.004
PubMed: 33131536
09/2020The Process of Self-Management: A Qualitative Case Study Reporting on Cancer Survivors’ and Program Staff’s Experiences Within One Self-Management Support Intervention
Health Education & Behavior
Jennifer Brunet and Amanda Wurz and Deeksha Srivastava
DOI: 10.1177/1090198120902029
08/2020A systematic review summarizing the effect of health care provider-delivered physical activity interventions on physical activity behaviour in cancer survivors
Patient Education and Counseling
Jennifer Brunet and Amanda Wurz and Patrick Abi Nader and Mathieu Bélanger
DOI: 10.1016/j.pec.2020.02.002
07/2020Health beliefs and engagement in moderate-to-vigorous-intensity physical activity among cancer survivors: a cross-sectional study.
Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
DOI: 10.1007/s00520-020-05515-9
PubMed: 32399724
05/2020Exploring cardiologists’ and oncologists’ exercise recommendation and referral practices
Health Education Journal
Heather J Leach and Kelli A LeBreton and Amanda J Wurz and Mackenzi Pergolotti and Barry Braun and Steven R Schuster and Patrick Green
DOI: 10.1177/0017896919876311
04/2020Using a dyadic approach to explore parental support for physical activity among young cancer survivors
Disability and Rehabilitation
DOI: 10.1080/09638288.2020.1712621
2020Exploring the feasibility and acceptability of a mixed-methods pilot randomized controlled trial testing a 12-week physical activity intervention with adolescent and young adult cancer survivors
Pilot and Feasibility Studies
Amanda Wurz and Jennifer Brunet
DOI: 10.1186/s40814-019-0530-6
12/2019Describing and exploring self-esteem, physical self-perceptions, physical activity and self-efficacy in adolescent and young adult cancer survivors.
European journal of cancer care
DOI: 10.1111/ecc.13179
PubMed: 31647149
10/2019Posttraumatic growth and its correlates among survivors of adolescent and young adult cancer: A brief report.
Journal of psychosocial oncology
DOI: 10.1080/07347332.2019.1664702
PubMed: 31599205
10/2019Exploring Physical Self-Perceptions Among Survivors of Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer
Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology
Amanda Wurz and Jennifer Brunet
DOI: 10.1089/jayao.2018.0110
06/2019Physical activity programs for children diagnosed with cancer: an international environmental scan
Supportive Care in Cancer
Amanda Wurz and Julia Daeggelmann and Natalia Albinati and Liam Kronlund and Carolina Chamorro-Vi{\~{n}}a and S. Nicole Culos-Reed
DOI: 10.1007/s00520-019-04669-5
04/2019Translating Research to Practice: Taking the Next Step to get Children Diagnosed with Cancer Moving
Annals of Physiotherapy & Occupational Therapy
Julia Daeggelmann
DOI: 10.23880/aphot-16000141
2019A scoping review of studies exploring physical activity among adolescents and young adults diagnosed with cancer
Psycho-Oncology
Jennifer Brunet and Amanda Wurz and Shirin M. Shallwani
DOI: 10.1002/pon.4743
08/2018Social adjustment and repressive adaptive style in survivors of pediatric cancer.
Journal of psychosocial oncology
DOI: 10.1080/07347332.2018.1431754
PubMed: 29452053
02/2018Cycling Through Cancer: Exploring Childhood Cancer Survivors' Experiences of Well- and Ill-Being.
Adapted physical activity quarterly : APAQ
DOI: 10.1123/apaq.2016-0011
PubMed: 28942675
09/2017Physical Activity and Quality of Life in Cancer Survivors: A Meta-Synthesis of Qualitative Research.
Cancers
DOI: 10.3390/cancers9050053
PubMed: 28531109
05/2017Evaluating Questionnaires Used to Assess Self-Reported Physical Activity and Psychosocial Outcomes Among Survivors of Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer: A Cognitive Interview Study.
Journal of adolescent and young adult oncology
DOI: 10.1089/jayao.2017.0005
PubMed: 28430009
04/2017The effectiveness of health care provider physical activity recommendations in cancer survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol.
Systematic reviews
DOI: 10.1186/s13643-017-0453-3
PubMed: 28347351
03/2017Yoga Helps Put the Pieces Back Together: A Qualitative Exploration of a Community-Based Yoga Program for Cancer Survivors.
Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
DOI: 10.1155/2016/1832515
PubMed: 27974899
11/2016The Effects of Physical Activity on Health and Quality of Life in Adolescent Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Review.
JMIR cancer
DOI: 10.2196/cancer.5431
PubMed: 28410184
05/2016A Systematic Review Protocol to Assess the Effects of Physical Activity on Health and Quality of Life Outcomes in Adolescent Cancer Survivors.
JMIR research protocols
DOI: 10.2196/resprot.5383
PubMed: 27030210
03/2016Quality of Life in Survivors of Pediatric Cancer and Their Siblings: The Consensus Between Parent-Proxy and Self-Reports.
Pediatric blood & cancer
DOI: 10.1002/pbc.25868
PubMed: 26739262
01/2016Ankle Dorsiflexion in Childhood Cancer Patients: A Review of the Literature.
Cancer nursing
DOI: 10.1097/ncc.0000000000000223
PubMed: 25730588
11/2015Breast cancer survivors' barriers and motives for participating in a group-based physical activity program offered in the community.
Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
DOI: 10.1007/s00520-014-2596-2
PubMed: 25605568
01/2015The feasibility and benefits of a 12-week yoga intervention for pediatric cancer out-patients.
Pediatric blood & cancer
DOI: 10.1002/pbc.25096
PubMed: 24938424
06/2014Associations between attention, affect and cardiac activity in a single yoga session for female cancer survivors: an enactive neurophenomenology-based approach.
Consciousness and cognition
DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2014.04.005
PubMed: 24879038
05/2014Promoting physical activity in pediatric oncology. Where do we go from here?
Frontiers in oncology
DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2013.00173
PubMed: 23875168
07/2013Translating knowledge: a framework for evidence-informed yoga programs in oncology.
International journal of yoga therapy
PubMed: 24165528
01/2013EXERCISE in pediatric autologous stem cell transplant patients: a randomized controlled trial protocol.
BMC cancer
DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-12-401
PubMed: 22963378
09/2012 - Research
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Exploring the effectiveness and implementation of the IMPACT program: A physical activity program for children and adolescents on treatment for cancer
We co-created, with key stakeholders, a tailored, 1:1, online physical activity intervention called ‘IMPACT’ (IMplementation of Physical Activity for Children and adolescents on Treatment). We are testing IMPACT using a study that explores the effect of the intervention and aspects of implementation. Children and adolescents aged 5-18 years, with any cancer diagnosis, currently receiving, scheduled to receive treatment, or completed treatmentYoga for young adults diagnosed with cancer
Young adults affected by cancer face physical and psychological challenges and desire online supportive care. Yoga is one strategy that can be delivered online and that may improve physical and psychological outcomes. Yet, yoga has rarely been studied in this population. I work with young adults to develop relevant yoga interventions and trials. Most recently, we conducted a pilot trial evaluating an 8-week yoga intervention, and are currently conducting a full-scale trial evaluating the revised, 12-week yoga intervention. We are finding that yoga may confer physical and psychological benefits for this population.The international Pediatric Oncology Exercise Guidelines (iPOEG) and network
Guideline and recommendation statements can help change individual physical activity behavior and practice. To develop such statements, rigorous guideline development procedures, stakeholder engagement strategies, and the Delphi technique were used. Four online surveys were distributed to an international network (n=131 experts). Surveys asked closed- and open-ended questions informed by a literature synthesis and an in-person meeting. Findings from the online surveys resulted in the international Pediatric Oncology Exercise Guidelines (iPOEG) statements, which highlight that it is time for children and adolescents affected by cancer to ‘move more’. Our network continues to grow and today has >190 international experts from >30 countries.Grants2022-2024. Exploring the effectiveness and implementation of the IMPACT program: A physical activity program for children and adolescents on treatment for cancer. Canadian Institutes of Health Research Project Grant. Co-PI
2021-2022. Exploring the benefits of an 8-week online yoga program for young adults affected by cancer. University of the Fraser Valley Initiate Fund. PI
2019-2021. Co-creating in-hospital physical activity programming to enhance health for children during treatment for cancer. Strategy for Patient-Oriented Research. PI
2019. Pediatric oncology and exercise international roundtable meeting. Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Co-I
Honours & AwardsEarly Career Investigator Award, Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology
Franklin Henry Young Scientist Award in Exercise Psychology
BCCHR research could help set new international standard for young children receiving bone marrow transplants
The findings from a BCCHR study played a part in integrating the multiple breath washout test into recent recommendations to screen children for pulmonary chronic graft-versus-host disease, a lung complication that can affect children who undergo a bone marrow transplant.
