Spatial analysis of cancer survivors' accessibility to exercise programs designed exclusively for their needs

This study employs geographic information science (GIScience) to analyze accessibility between cancer survivors and the nearest exercise program and general fitness facility designed for their needs in a metropolitan statistical area (MSA), a micropolitan statistical area (μSA), or rural area. Initial findings indicate that approximately 59 percent, 19 percent, and 22 percent of survivors respectively, reside in counties designated as MSA, μSA, or rural. Survivors living in an MSA had a mean distance of 16.1 ± 28.8 miles from the nearest exercise program and 3.2 ± 5.2 miles from the nearest exercise facility. Survivors living in a μSA had a mean distance of 149.3 ± 113.7 miles to the nearest exercise program for cancer survivors and 6.4 ± 8.4 miles to the nearest exercise facility. Rural survivors had a mean distance of 164.6 ± 115.7 miles from an exercise program and 24.9 ± 19.6 miles from the nearest exercise facility. Using GIScience to spatially evaluate exercise facilities finds that they are accessible to cancer survivors throughout Nebraska, however, for many cancer survivors exercise programs are not located within reasonable distances to rural survivors. Strategies are needed to address rural access to fitness programs and facilities among cancer survivors.