Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39820655›Full record

Trial reportSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2025

Feasibility of a comprehensive supervised exercise program during and after treatment of head and neck cancer: a mixed-methods study.

Kaat Van Aperen, An De Groef, Thierry Troosters, Pascalle Elshout, Sandra Nuyts

Registry-linked trialAbstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT05256238 (Improving Health-related Quality of Life of Head and Neck Cancer Patients Via a Dedicated Comprehensive Supervised Exercise Program), which is not on this map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–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.

NCT05256238 nacompletednot on this map

Improving Health-related Quality of Life of Head and Neck Cancer Patients Via a Dedicated Comprehensive Supervised Exercise Program (CSEP)

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversitaire Ziekenhuizen KU LeuvenRan2022 to 2025Enrolled133ConditionsHead and Neck CancerArmscomprehensive supervised exercise program (CSEP)
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Head and neck cancer rehabilitation: the CaRe feasibility study.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
    Trial
  2. Development and Feasibility of CALORIE CAREIndian journal of palliative care
    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

5 authors.

Kaat Van AperenLaboratory of Experimental Radiotherapy, Department of Oncology, University of Leuven, Louvain, Belgium.
An De GroefDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, University of Leuven, Louvain, Belgium. an.degroef@kuleuven.be.
Thierry TroostersDepartment of Rehabilitation Sciences and Physiotherapy, University of Leuven, Louvain, Belgium.
Pascalle ElshoutBerekuyl Academy, Hierden, The Netherlands.
Sandra NuytsLaboratory of Experimental Radiotherapy, Department of Oncology, University of Leuven, Louvain, Belgium.

Funding

Flemish Foundation of Scientific Research (FWO-Vlaanderen) 18B4122NKom Op Tegen Kanker KOTK_KUL/2020/12167/1Research Foundations Flanders 12R1723N
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeThis study evaluates the feasibility of a comprehensive supervised exercise program (CSEP) for head and neck cancer (HNC) patients during and after (chemo)radiotherapy, integrating quantitative and qualitative data to identify participation barriers and facilitators.

methodsTo investigate the feasibility of the CSEP, a mixed-method study was performed. For the quantitative part, first, adherence to and safety of the CSEP were considered as quantitative feasibility outcome measures. Second, two questionnaires evaluated acceptability, adherence, feasibility, therapeutic support, and overall evaluation at 12 weeks and 6 months after the start of the radiotherapy. Additionally, focus groups were held to discuss acceptability, adherence, expectations, feasibility, therapeutic support, and overall evaluation. The quantitative and qualitative data were integrated and discussed via a joint display table.

resultsQuantitative data were available from 32 participants. Three focus groups with in total 11 participants were organized. Overall adherence to the CSEP was 72%, and no serious adverse events were reported, confirming the program's safety. Adherence and feasibility posed challenges; hospital sessions had higher adherence due to better motivation and guidance, whereas home sessions faced issues like lack of motivation and time constraints. Participants highlighted the program's individualization as a significant strength.

conclusionThe CSEP was positively received, deemed safe, and feasible during and after HNC treatment, with participants recommending it to other HNC patients.

trial registrationTrial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05256238 (Registered on February 25, 2022).

Indexed as

Exercise TherapyHead and Neck NeoplasmsAdultAgedFeasibility StudiesFemaleFocus GroupsHumansMaleMiddle AgedPatient ComplianceSurveys and QuestionnairesExercise programFeasibilityFocus groupsHead and neck cancer

Identifiers

PMID39820655

What OpenQuestion holds

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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.