Cancer prehabilitation in Scotland: 2025 survey findings report

3. Method

SG analysts, policy officials and CPOG members developed the survey questionnaire (attached as Appendix B) based on the 2022 survey. It similarly included open and closed questions and was distributed online. It introduced questions about workforce learning and awareness of the six principles of good rehabilitation. An additional question for Senior Leaders and Service Managers sought details on the ways in which they are embedding prehabilitation in ways of working. One question was revised to better capture the current period, and response categories for employment were introduced to support respondents in completing it more easily.

SG analysts created the survey on Microsoft Forms, following an internal ethical review and a data protection impact assessment. A link to the online survey was distributed by the SG policy team to CPOG members with a request to cascade it more widely amongst professional networks. The survey was live from 24 February until 14 April 2025. Basic respondent characteristics were monitored each week and reminder e-mails sent out to all initial recipients to increase the response rate.

SG social researchers analysed the survey responses and authored this report. Responses to closed questions were analysed descriptively, with frequency distribution tables in Microsoft Excel used to count the number of occurrences in each category. Open text responses were analysed using a qualitative thematic approach in Microsoft Excel. The data were coded using existing codes from 2022 and new ones to match emerging themes and then grouped together for the discussion of findings. Please note that in some tables percentages have been rounded and may not total to 100%.

Sampling and considerations for findings

This report covers the main findings from this survey and includes some comparisons with findings from earlier surveys. There are some limitations to these comparisons, including a larger, and occupationally different, group of respondents to 2022. Any differences observed between surveys may reflect variations in the individuals who responded, rather than actual changes over time. This limitation is acknowledged and explained within the report where relevant to the analysis. The survey design relies on non-probability (convenience) sampling due to its objective to target a specialised population, i.e. people working in the field of prehabilitation in Scotland. Due to this approach it might be expected that those responding have a stronger interest in prehabilitation compared to those who have not responded. In addition, where findings from this survey are broken down by professional group or Cancer Network Area, they refer to differences in the sample which may be influenced by the survey design. As such, we cannot be certain of the representativeness of views across professions or networks since some groups or areas may be over- or under-represented due to convenience or accessibility of the sample. Consequently, where conclusions are tentative or further evidence may be necessary either to contribute deeper understanding or to determine relevant next steps for policy development and/ or delivery, this is highlighted in the discussion.