Evidence map›Paper›PMID 29185105›Full record

SynthesisSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2018

Barriers and facilitators of exercise experienced by cancer survivors: a mixed methods systematic review.

Briana K Clifford, David Mizrahi, Carolina X Sandler, Benjamin K Barry, David Simar, Claire E Wakefield, David Goldstein

2 registry-linked trialsOpen access · bronzeAbstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to 2 registered trials, which are not on this map. Cited by 162 papers, 21 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
162citing papers in PubMed, 21 pooled it
7.8field-weighted citation impact, top 2% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT06828003 nanot yet recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2025, after this paper: background citation

A Remotely-Delivered Resistance Training Program for Cognitive Function in Men Living With and Beyond Prostate Cancer: A Feasibility Study

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversity of TorontoRan2025 to 2026Enrolled30ConditionsProstate Cancer, Resistance TrainingArmsResistance Training
NCT07373626 recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2025, after this paper: background citation

Prospective Study on Physical Activity Trends in Cancer Survivors Treated at the 'MOvement and REhabilitation' (MO.RE) Clinic

TypeobservationalSponsorAzienda USL Reggio Emilia - IRCCSRan2025 to 2027Enrolled50ConditionsBehavior, Motor Activity
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

162 citing papers in PubMed, 21 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 269 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. A systematic review of patient and healthcare professional perceptions of the barriers and facilitators to embedding exercise in the adjuvant cancer treatment pathway.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
    Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Pooled it
  5. Pooled it
  6. Pooled it
  7. Pooled it
  8. Determinants of healthy lifestyle behaviours in colorectal cancer survivors: a systematic review.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025
    Pooled it
  9. Pooled it
  10. Barriers and facilitators to physical activity in cancer survivors with pain: a systematic review.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2023
    Pooled it
  11. Experiences of breast cancer survivors with exercise rehabilitation: qualitative systematic review and meta-synthesis.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2023
    Pooled it
  12. Pooled it
  13. Pooled it
  14. What moves patients to participate in prehabilitation before major surgery? A mixed methods systematic review.The international journal of behavioral nutrition and physical activity · 2023
    Pooled it
  15. Pooled it
  16. Pooled it
  17. Pooled it
  18. Pooled it
  19. Pooled it
  20. Pooled it

102 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.

Briana K CliffordSchool of Medical Sciences, UNSW Medicine, UNSW, Sydney, 2052, Australia. b.clifford@unsw.edu.au.
David MizrahiSchool of Medical Sciences, UNSW Medicine, UNSW, Sydney, 2052, Australia.
Carolina X SandlerNational Centre for Cancer Survivorship, UNSW, Sydney, Australia.
Benjamin K BarrySchool of Medical Sciences, UNSW Medicine, UNSW, Sydney, 2052, Australia.
David SimarSchool of Medical Sciences, UNSW Medicine, UNSW, Sydney, 2052, Australia.
Claire E WakefieldBehavioural Sciences Unit, Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children's Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
David GoldsteinDepartment of Medical Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, Australia.
UNSW Sydney · AUSydney Children's Hospital · AUPrince of Wales Hospital · AU

Funding

National Health and Medical Research Council APP1067501
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeExercise has been shown to improve the health and well-being of people who have survived cancer. Yet, less than 40% of cancer survivors in Australia meet the recommended 150 min of moderate-intensity physical activity per week. Our objective was to systematically review the literature regarding barriers, facilitators and preferences for exercise for survivors of cancer.

methodMEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, PsycINFO and Scopus were searched for qualitative and quantitative articles addressing barriers, facilitators and preferences for exercise in cancer survivors. Quality assessment was performed by two independent reviewers using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Thomas and Harden's method of thematic synthesis was used to amalgamate qualitative data while descriptive statistics were used to collate quantitative data.

resultsNineteen studies were included (9 qualitative and 10 quantitative). Persisting treatment-related side effects was the most commonly reported barrier to initiating or maintaining exercise, followed by lack of time and fatigue. The most common facilitators of exercise were gaining a feeling of control over their health as well as managing emotions and mental well-being, while the preferred method of exercise was walking. We also identified a lack of useful information provided to survivors regarding exercise.

conclusionTreatment-related side effects, lack of time and fatigue were key barriers to exercise for survivors of varied cancer types. Insufficient patient education may contribute to the belief that exercise is not helpful when experiencing side effects of treatment, including fatigue. Identifying barriers and facilitators leads to improved support and education from health professionals which is required to provide safe and effective exercise recommendations for survivors.

Indexed as

Cancer SurvivorsExerciseHumansBarriersCancerExerciseFacilitatorsPhysical activitySurvivor

Identifiers

PMID29185105
OpenAlexW2769024299

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.