Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37148366›Full record

Trial reportSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2023

Perceived facilitators and barriers by esophageal cancer survivors participating in a post-treatment exercise program.

Jonna K van Vulpen, Lenja Witlox, Alida C Methorst-de Haan, Anouk E Hiensch, Richard van Hillegersberg, Jelle P Ruurda, Grard A P Nieuwenhuijzen, Ewout A Kouwenhoven, Peter D Siersema, Anne M May

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed, 1 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.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Experiences of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer participating in a supervised exercise intervention during chemotherapy.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025
    Trial
  3. Effects of combined exercises on shoulder mobility and strength of the upper extremities in breast cancer rehabilitation: a 3-week randomized controlled trial.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2023
    Trial
  4. Article
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

10 authors.

Jonna K van VulpenDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584, CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Lenja WitloxJulius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 85500, STR 6.131, 3508, GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Alida C Methorst-de HaanHU University of Applied Sciences, Heidelberglaan 15, 3584, CS, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Anouk E HienschJulius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 85500, STR 6.131, 3508, GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Richard van HillegersbergDepartment of Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584, CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Jelle P RuurdaDepartment of Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, Heidelberglaan 100, 3584, CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Grard A P NieuwenhuijzenDepartment of Surgery, Catharina Hospital, Michelangelolaan 2, 5623 EJ, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
Ewout A KouwenhovenDepartment of Surgery, ZGT Hospital, Zilvermeeuw 1, 7609, PP, Almelo, The Netherlands.
Peter D SiersemaDepartment of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Radboud University Medical Center, PO Box 9101, 6500, HB, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Anne M MayJulius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, P.O. Box 85500, STR 6.131, 3508, GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands. a.m.may@umcutrecht.nl.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeParticipation in a post-treatment exercise program improves cardiorespiratory fitness and aspects of quality of life for esophageal cancer survivors. For optimal effects, high adherence to the exercise intervention is important. We assessed which facilitators and barriers to exercise adherence are perceived by esophageal cancer survivors, who participate in a post-treatment exercise program.

methodsThe current qualitative study was performed within the randomized controlled PERFECT trial, in which we investigated effects of a 12-week supervised exercise program with moderate-to-high intensity and daily physical activity advice. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with patients randomized to the exercise group. A thematic content approach was used to derive perceived facilitators and barriers.

resultsThematic saturation was reached after inclusion of sixteen patients. Median session attendance was 97.9% (IQR 91.7-100%), and relative dose intensity (compliance) to all exercises was ≥90.0%. Adherence to the activity advice was 50.0% (16.7-60.4%). Facilitators and barriers were captured in seven themes. The most important facilitators were patients' own intention to engage in exercise and supervision by a physiotherapist. Barriers were mainly experienced in completion of the activity advice, and included logistic factors and physical complaints.

conclusionsEsophageal cancer survivors are well capable to attend a moderate-to-high intensity post-treatment exercise program, and to fulfill the exercises according to protocol. This is facilitated by patients' own intention to engage in exercise and supervision of the physiotherapist, and only minimally affected by barriers as logistic factors and physical complaints. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: When implementing postoperative exercise programs in clinical care, it can be useful to be aware of perceived facilitators and barriers of cancer survivors in order to achieve optimal exercise adherence and maximize beneficial exercise effects.

trial registrationDutch Trial Register NTR 5045.

Indexed as

Cancer SurvivorsEsophageal NeoplasmsExerciseExercise TherapyHumansQuality of LifeSurvivorsAdherenceCancer survivorshipEsophageal cancerExerciseFacilitators and barriersQuality of life

Identifiers

PMID37148366
PMCPMC10164010

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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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.