Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Breast cancer relatives' physical activity intervention needs and preferences: Qualitative 
results  
 
Version: 0 Date: 06 Feb 2017  
 
Reviewer: Lesley Stafford  
 
Reviewer's report:  
 
This manuscript describes a qualitative study in which first degree relatives of women with 
breast cancer participated in an exercise interventi on and then attended two focus groups to 
provide feedback on the intervention and refine the intervention. The paper is generally well 
written and of interest to the readership of this journal.  
 
I suggest minor, essential revisions described below:  
Abstra ct: 
Description of the aim of the study is clear in the paper but less so in the abstract (changing 
physical activity levels, developing targeted intervention, both?).  
 
Introduction:  
Please provide more information regarding the amount of vigorous and mode rate activity that is 
associated with risk reduction.  
 
Methods:  
Was there a reason for excluding women who participate in more than 90 minutes of exercise per 
week?  
Please provide a description of the physical activity intervention even though it is refer enced. 
This is important information for placing the current data in context.  
Can you say more about the methodology of four participants per group and who facilitated the 
group?  
 
Results:  
Include a table on participant demographics including key indicato rs like exercise history and 
adherence to exercise  
Presumably the currency are American dollars? Please specify.  
 
Discussion:  
The authors acknowledge that the refined intervention needs to be tested in future research. 
Perhaps more could be said about how this would be achieved, what a revised intervention would 
look like, how it would be evaluated?  
Are the methods appropriate and well d escribed?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequatel y supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an  
additional statistical review?  
If an additional statistical revie w is recommended, please specify what aspects require further  
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
Not relevant to this manuscript  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
 
Declaration of compet ing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an  
organisation that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this  
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose  
financially from the publication of this manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold o r are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the  
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds  or has applied for patents relating to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below.  If your reply is yes t o any, please give details below.  
 
I declare that I have no competing interests' below  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal. I understand that my name will be included  
on my report to the authors and, if the manuscript is accepted for publi cation, my named report  
including any attachments I upload will be posted on the website along with the authors'  
responses. I agree for my report to be made available under an Open Access Creative Commons  
CC-BY license ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ ). I understand that any comments  
which I do not wish to be included in my named report can be included as confidential comments  
to the editors, which will not be published.  
 
I agree to the open peer review policy of the journal