Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30587148›Full record

Trial reportBMC cancer2018

Effects of a combined physical and psychosocial training for children with cancer: a randomized controlled trial.

Katja I Braam, Elisabeth M van Dijk-Lokkart, Gertjan J L Kaspers, Tim Takken, Jaap Huisman, Laurien M Buffart, Marc B Bierings, Johannes H M Merks, Marry M van den Heuvel-Eibrink, Margreet A Veening and 1 more

Registry-linked trialAbstract readMulticenter StudyRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMC cancer, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT06999759 (Concealment of Chemotherapy Drug Serum With a Picture Box Effect on Anxiety, Nausea and Vomiting in Children), which is not on this map. Cited by 46 papers, 12 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
46citing papers in PubMed, 12 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
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.

NCT06999759 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2024, after this paper: background citation

Concealment of Chemotherapy Drug Serum With a Picture Box Effect on Anxiety, Nausea and Vomiting in Children: A Prospective Randomized Controlled Study

TypeinterventionalSponsorMaltepe UniversityRan2024 to 2025Enrolled70ConditionsNursing Caries, Art TherapyArmscute serum box, coloring book and coloring pencils
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

46 citing papers in PubMed, 12 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Psychosocial interventions for children and adolescents across the cancer care continuum: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
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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

11 authors.

Katja I BraamDepartment of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Elisabeth M van Dijk-LokkartDepartment of Medical Psychology, VU University Medical Center, PO Box 7057, 1007 MB, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. em.vandijk@vumc.nl.
Gertjan J L KaspersDepartment of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Tim TakkenChild Development & Exercise Center, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Jaap HuismanDepartment of Medical Psychology and Social Work, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Laurien M BuffartDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam Public Health research institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Marc B BieringsDepartment of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Johannes H M MerksDepartment of Pediatric Oncology, Emma Children's Hospital/Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Marry M van den Heuvel-EibrinkDepartment of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, Erasmus Medical Center, Sophia Children's Hospital, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Margreet A VeeningDepartment of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Eline van Dulmen-den BroederDepartment of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPhysical fitness and psychosocial function is often reduced in children during or shortly after cancer treatment. This study evaluates the effect of a combined physical exercise and psychosocial intervention on cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, body composition, psychosocial function and health-related quality of life (HrQoL). In addition, intervention mediators, applicability and adherence were examined.

methodsThis multicenter randomized controlled trial included 68 children with cancer [mean age 13.2 (SD: 3.1) years; 54% male] during treatment or within 12-months post-treatment. The 12-week intervention consisted of 24 individual physical exercise sessions supervised by a physiotherapist, and 6 psychosocial training sessions for children and 2 for parents. Physical fitness and psychosocial function were assessed at baseline, directly post-intervention and at 12 months' post-baseline. Generalized estimating equations were used to simultaneously assess intervention effects at short and long-term. Additionally, we evaluated within-group differences over time. Potential physical and psychosocial mediators in the intervention effect on HrQoL were examined using the product-of-coefficient test. Applicability and adherence were assessed by trainer-report.

resultsThis study was able to compare 26 children who received the study intervention, with 33 children who received usual care. No significant differences in the effects of the intervention were found on physical fitness and psychosocial function at short-term. At 12-months follow-up, significantly larger improvements in lower body muscle strength (β = 56.5 Newton; 95% CI: 8.5; 104.5) were found in the intervention group when compared to the control group. Within-group changes showed significant improvements over time in HrQoL and bone density in both groups. Intervention effects on HrQoL were not significantly mediated by physical fitness and psychological function. Intervention applicability was satisfactory with an average session attendance of 67% and 22% dropout (mainly due to disease recurrence).

conclusionsThis 12-week physical exercise and psychosocial training intervention for children with cancer was applicable and showed satisfactory adherence. We found no significant between-group differences in effect, except for a significant improvement in lower body muscle strength at long-term in the intervention group compared to the control group. Yet, both the intervention and the control group showed improvements in bone mineral density and HrQoL over time.

trial registrationThe trial was registered at the Dutch Trial Registry ( NTR1531 ). Registered 12 November 2008.

Indexed as

Quality of LifeAdolescentBone DensityCardiorespiratory FitnessChildExercise TherapyFeasibility StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMuscle StrengthNeoplasmsPsychotherapyTreatment OutcomeCancerChildrenInterventionPhysical exercisePsychosocial

Identifiers

PMID30587148
PMCPMC6307314

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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.