Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38700712›Full record

Trial reportSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2024

"It gave me a sense of achievement and a sense of purpose"-a qualitative study of patient experiences of a virtually supervised exercise program for adults with advanced cancer and cachexia.

Kelcey A Bland, Madeleine France-Ratcliffe, Meinir Krishnasamy, Amruta Nandi, Evelyn B Parr, Peter Martin, Prue Cormie, Luc J C van Loon, Eva M Zopf

Abstract readRandomized Controlled TrialClinical Trial, Phase II
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing 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

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

  1. Multimodal interventions for cachexia management.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2025
    Pooled it
  2. Trial
  3. Wearable-derived postdischarge mobility as a digital biomarker for 90-day readmission and mortality in metastatic cancer.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
    Observational
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. 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

9 authors.

Kelcey A BlandDepartment of Physical Therapy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. kelcey.bland@ubc.ca.
Madeleine France-RatcliffeDepartment of Medical Oncology, Cabrini Health, Malvern, VIC, Australia.
Meinir KrishnasamyDepartment of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Amruta NandiDepartment of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Evelyn B ParrMary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Peter MartinSchool of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
Prue CormieDepartment of Health Services Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Luc J C van LoonMary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Eva M ZopfDepartment of Medical Oncology, Cabrini Health, Malvern, VIC, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

People with advanced cancer and cachexia experience significant body weight loss, adversely impacting physical function and quality of life (QOL). Effective, evidence-based treatments for cancer cachexia are lacking, leaving patients with unmet needs. Exercise holds promise to improve patient QOL. However, information on patients' experiences of exercise, including their ability to cope with structured exercise, is limited. PURPOSE: To explore patient experiences completing a structured, supervised exercise program for people with cachexia due to advanced cancer.

methodsSemi-structured interviews were conducted with participants enrolled in a phase II feasibility, randomized controlled trial to explore their experiences of an 8-week virtually supervised exercise program delivered via videoconference technology. Interviews were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

resultsSeventeen participants completed interviews (female n = 9, 53%). Main interview themes included the following: (1) Deciding to exercise involves balancing concerns and expectations, (2) the exercise program is a positive experience, and (3) moving forward after the exercise program. While some participants initially held doubts about their physical capabilities and exercise safety, most wanted to exercise to enhance their wellbeing. Participants described the exercise program as a positive experience, offering diverse benefits. Some would have preferred in-person exercise, but all agreed the virtual format increased convenience. Participants emphasized the need to recommend the program to others in similar circumstances. They underscored the necessity and desire for ongoing support to sustain their new exercise habits.

conclusionBased on patient experiences, virtually supervised exercise programming appears to be feasible and meaningful to people with advanced cancer and cachexia.

Indexed as

CachexiaExercise TherapyNeoplasmsQualitative ResearchQuality of LifeAdultAgedFeasibility StudiesFemaleHumansInterviews as TopicMaleMiddle AgedVideoconferencingAerobic exerciseCancer cachexiaMetastatic cancerPatient experiencesResistance trainingTelehealthThematic analysis

Identifiers

PMID38700712

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.