SynthesisJournal of medical Internet research2025
Digital Behavior Change Interventions to Promote Physical Activity and Reduce Sedentary Behavior Among Survivors of Breast Cancer: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.
Synthesis in Journal of medical Internet research, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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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.
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.
Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Integrated TCM and Western medicine rehabilitation program after breast cancer surgery: a best evidence summary.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Pooled it
- The impact of digital interactive interventions on survivorship outcomes in prostate cancer: a systematic narrative review.BMC cancer · 2025Pooled it
- Older breast cancer survivors' exercise and support group program experiences and recommendations from the IMPROVE trial: a qualitative study.BMC cancer · 2026Trial
- A longitudinal study of physical activity in patients with breast cancer: A latent transition analysis.Asia-Pacific journal of oncology nursing · 2026Article
- Telemedicine and Virtual Reality Technologies in Pain Management for Cancer Patients: A Structured Narrative Review.Current treatment options in oncology · 2026Review
- Physical Activity Interventions Using Digital Health Interventions for Cancer-Related Fatigue in People With a History of Cancer: Scoping Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2026Article
- Digital-based physical activity interventions implemented across the League of Arab States: a scoping review.Oxford open digital health · 2025Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSurvivors of breast cancer often face challenges in maintaining physical activity (PA) and reducing sedentary behavior (SB), which are crucial for recovery and long-term health. Digital behavior change interventions (DBCIs) have emerged as promising tools to address these behavioral targets.
objectiveThis systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the effectiveness of DBCIs in promoting PA and reducing SB among survivors of breast cancer.
methodsA comprehensive search of 10 databases-PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, the Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Web of Science, the China National Knowledge Infrastructure database, the Wanfang database, the VIP database, and the Sedentary Behavior Research Database-was conducted to identify eligible randomized controlled trials that investigated the effectiveness of DBCIs in promoting PA and reducing SB among survivors of breast cancer. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk-of-Bias tool. Data synthesis was conducted via Review Manager. Owing to anticipated heterogeneity, a random-effects meta-analysis was used. The evidence quality was evaluated using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach.
resultsA total of 29 randomized controlled trials involving 2229 participants met the inclusion criteria. Most DBCIs were delivered at the interpersonal level using common behavior change techniques, including social support (unspecified), instruction on how to perform the behavior, demonstration of the behavior, action planning, and problem-solving. Meta-analysis revealed that DBCIs significantly improved shoulder range of motion across all planes (flexion: standardized mean difference [SMD]=2.08, 95% CI 1.14-3.01; P<.001; extension: SMD=1.74, 95% CI 0.79-2.70; P<.001; abduction: SMD=2.32, 95% CI 1.35-3.28; P<.001; external rotation: SMD=2.29, 95% CI 0.96-3.62; P<.001; internal rotation: SMD=2.98, 95% CI 1.08-4.87; P=.002; adduction: SMD=2.09, 95% CI 1.16-3.02; P<.001), finger climbing wall height (SMD=1.65, 95% CI 1.35-1.95; P<.001), upper-extremity function (SMD=-0.96, 95% CI -1.50 to -0.42; P<.001), quality of life (SMD=1.83, 95% CI 0.44-3.22; P=.01), and reduced pain (SMD=-0.58, 95% CI -0.93 to -0.22; P=.002). However, no significant differences were found in steps (P=.69), time spent in light PA (P=.51), time spent in moderate to vigorous PA (P=.43), sedentary time (P=.18), or physical function (P=.71 or .11).
conclusionsDBCIs effectively improve upper-body mobility, function, quality of life, and pain management in survivors of breast cancer. Future research should explore multilevel DBCIs specifically designed to address whole-body PA and SB reduction, with effectiveness evaluated through methodologically rigorous, large-scale trials.
trial registrationPROSPERO CRD42023448098; https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD42023448098.
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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.