Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37624789›Full record

ArticlePloS one2023

ACTivity as medicine In Oncology for Head and Neck (ACTIOHN): Protocol for a feasibility study investigating a patient-centred approach to exercise for people with head and neck cancer.

Adrian W Midgley, Andrew R Levy, Simon N Rogers, Rachel C Brooker, Valerie Bryant, Mary Gemma Cherry, Steven Lane, Michael M Nugent, Ruth Price, Andrew G Schache and 2 more

Abstract readClinical Trial Protocol
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing 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

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

  1. Predictors of survival among head and neck cancer patients after radiotherapy based on health-related quality of life indices and symptoms-specific outcomes: a systematic review.Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation · 2025
    Pooled it
  2. Feasibility of a comprehensive supervised exercise program during and after treatment of head and neck cancer: a mixed-methods study.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025
    Trial
  3. 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

12 authors.

Adrian W MidgleyDepartment of Sport and Physical Activity, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0002-6139-4168
Andrew R LevyHealth Research Institute, Edge Hill University, Ormskirk, Lancashire, United Kingdom.
Simon N RogersArrowe Park Hospital, Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0002-5989-6142
Rachel C BrookerThe Clatterbridge Cancer Centre NHS Foundation Trust, Wirral, United Kingdom.
Valerie BryantCancer of Head and Neck Group Experience (CHANGE) Patient and Public Involvement Group, Sunderland Royal Hospital, Sunderland, United Kingdom.
Mary Gemma CherryInstitute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Steven LaneInstitute of Infection, Veterinary, and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Michael M NugentOral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Sunderland Royal Hospital, South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust, Sunderland, United Kingdom.
Ruth PriceLiverpool Head and Neck Centre, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Andrew G SchacheLiverpool Head and Neck Centre, Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Bridget YoungInstitute of Population Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Joanne M PattersonLiverpool Head and Neck Centre, School of Health Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

aimAttempts at personalisation of exercise programmes in head and neck cancer (HaNC) have been limited. The main aim of the present study is to investigate the feasibility and acceptability of introducing a remotely delivered, fully personalised, collaborative, and flexible approach to prescribing and delivering exercise programmes into the HaNC usual care pathway.

methodsThis is a single arm, feasibility study. Seventy patients diagnosed with HaNC will be recruited from two regional HaNC centres in the United Kingdom. Patients will undertake an 8-week exercise programme designed and delivered by cancer exercise specialists. The exercise programme will start any time between the time of diagnosis and up to 8 weeks after completing treatment, depending on patient preference. The content of the exercise programme will be primarily based on patient needs, preferences, and goals, but guided by current physical activity guidelines for people with cancer. The primary outcome measure is retention to the study. Secondary quantitative outcomes are uptake to the exercise programme, different measures of exercise adherence, pre- and post-intervention assessments of fatigue (Multidimensional Fatigue Symptom Inventory-Short Form), quality of life (SF-36), physical activity levels (International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form), and various components of physical fitness. The outcomes of the nested qualitative study are acceptability and feasibility of the intervention evaluated via interviews with patients, health care professionals, and the cancer exercise specialists. Intervention and participant fidelity will be determined using checklists and scrutiny of each patient's logbook and the cancer exercise specialists' meeting notes. Analysis of quantitative data will be via standard summary statistics. Qualitative data will be analysed using thematic analysis. EXPECTED

resultsThis feasibility study will inform the design and conduct of a future randomised controlled trial. Success will be defined according to a traffic light system for identifying the appropriateness of progression to a randomised controlled trial.

trial registrationInternational Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Number registry (ISRCTN82505455).

Indexed as

Head and Neck NeoplasmsQuality of LifeExerciseFatigueFeasibility StudiesHumansRandomized Controlled Trials as Topic

Identifiers

PMID37624789
PMCPMC10456155

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.