Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41369919›Full record

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

Barriers to physical activity levels in people with cancer who are undergoing chemotherapy: a narrative systematic review with mapping to the capability, opportunity, motivation behaviour (COM-B) model.

Rebecca Cesnik, Breanne Kunstler, Kellie Toohey, Nicole Freene, Stuart Semple

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis 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. 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.

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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
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.

Rebecca CesnikACT Health Directorate, ACT Health GPO, Canberra City, Box 825, ACT, 2601, Australia. rebecca.cesnik@canberra.edu.au.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6221-0538
Breanne KunstlerBehaviour Works Australia, Monash University, Victoria, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0334-6918
Kellie TooheySport and Exercise Science, Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1776-6200
Nicole FreenePhysiotherapy, Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2047-7012
Stuart SempleSport and Exercise Science, Faculty of Health, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6143-297X

Funding

Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP)
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeCancer is a leading cause of death and disability. Chemotherapy is one of the most common treatments. Physical activity (PA) can improve chemotherapy side effects, fatigue, adherence, survival rates and quality of life. However, people who are undergoing chemotherapy are insufficiently active. This review aimed to identify the barriers to PA in adults who are undergoing chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer.

methodsDatabases were searched for articles that met the eligibility criteria and screened to determine eligibility and risk of bias using the Clinical Appraisal Study Programme Qualitative Checklist. Studies included adults aged > 18 years who were currently undergoing chemotherapy for any type or stage of cancer. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to develop themes, which were deductively mapped to the capability, opportunity, motivation behaviour (COM-B) model and presented narratively. The behaviour change wheel intervention functions enabled identification of potential strategies to address barriers.

resultsA total of 9774 articles were screened. Twenty studies were eligible, including 1085 participants. Side effects of cancer and chemotherapy, other health conditions (capability), knowledge gaps, accessibility, environmental factors, and lack of social support (opportunity); negative emotional response, not having time/prioritising other commitments, and low motivation (motivation) were identified as barriers to PA. Fatigue was the most commonly identified single barrier. Intervention functions to improve PA levels include environmental restructuring, education, training and enablement.

conclusionThe most commonly reported barriers to PA in people who are undergoing chemotherapy included side effects of cancer and chemotherapy, not having time/prioritising other commitments, knowledge and accessibility. Changes to service accessibility and delivery, and education for the cancer care team and people who are undergoing chemotherapy should be implemented to support increasing PA levels.

Indexed as

Antineoplastic AgentsExerciseNeoplasmsAdultHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHumansMotivationQuality of LifeSocial SupportAntineoplastic AgentsBarriersCancerChemotherapyExercisePhysical activity

Identifiers

PMID41369919

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.