Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38992238›Full record

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

Patient attitudes and experiences towards exercise during oncological treatment. A qualitative systematic review.

Alice Finch, Alex Benham

Abstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis 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 13 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
13citing 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

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

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. A qualitative analysis of cancer patients' views on facilitators and barriers for the implementation of oncological exercise therapy.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
    Article
  4. Physical activity and exercise beliefs of patients with cancer during chemotherapy: relation with social participation and quality of life level.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
    Article
  5. Acute cancer-related fatigue response following exercise during an outpatient cancer rehabilitation program.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
    Observational
  6. Article
  7. What works to engage cancer patients with fatigue in exercise: a scoping review of RCT-based interventions.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
    Article
  8. Article
  9. Review
  10. Article
  11. Article
  12. Article
  13. 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

2 authors.

Alice FinchOncology Therapies Department, St Bartholomew's Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, EC1A 7BE, UK.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0007-3142-6281
Alex BenhamSchool of Allied Health Professions, Keele University, Keele, ST5 5BG, UK. a.benham@keele.ac.uk.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeExercise and physical activity (PA) during oncological treatment have many benefits. However, PA levels and adherence are often low. This systematic review of qualitative literature aims to explore the experience and the perceived barriers and facilitators to exercise and physical activity during treatment.

methodsA systematic search of the published literature was carried out in the Embase and Medline databases; full details for the protocol can be found in the Prospero database (CRD42022371206). Studies eligible for inclusion were qualitative and included participants that were either currently undergoing oncological treatment or had finished treatment within the last 6 months. The findings from each study were tabulated and synthesised into analytical themes.

resultsEighteen full texts from 309 studies met inclusion criteria with a total of 420 participants including both curative and palliative treatment intents. Four overarching themes were generated: (1) Facilitators; (2) Barriers; (3) Experience of PA/exercise and (4) Transforming attitudes. Sub-themes that showed perceptions of PA or exercise during treatment were positive, and seeing personal positive change was highly motivating, especially in a group class setting. Barriers included lack of support or guidance from healthcare professionals (HCPs), environmental challenges and disease burden/fear or worsening symptoms.

conclusionsDespite having positive perceptions of exercise and PA during oncological treatment, there are significant barriers impacting participation. Lack of support from HCPs and fear of worsening symptoms were significant barriers. Future research should focus on impacting these barriers to ultimately improve PA and exercise levels in those undergoing oncological treatment.

Indexed as

ExerciseNeoplasmsQualitative ResearchAttitude to HealthExercise TherapyHumansMotivationCancer treatmentExperiencesPhysical activityQualitative review

Identifiers

PMID38992238
PMCPMC11239782

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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.