Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41657781›Full record

ReviewJournal of exercise science and fitness2026

"Phoenix Rising": A scoping review on the impacts of dragon boating exercise on well-being among breast cancer survivors and factors affecting their participation.

Nelson Chun Yiu Yeung, Victor Chi Wing Tam, Stephanie Tsz Yung Lau, Lihua Pan, Sze Nok Ng, Deng Yau Shy, Raymond Kim Wai Sum

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Journal of exercise science and fitness, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Trial
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

7 authors.

Nelson Chun Yiu YeungThe Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Victor Chi Wing TamThe Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Stephanie Tsz Yung LauThe Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Lihua PanThe Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Sze Nok NgThe Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Deng Yau ShyDepartment of Physical Education, National Taiwan Normal University, Taiwan.
Raymond Kim Wai SumDepartment of Sports Science and Physical Education, Faculty of Education, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objective: Breast cancer survivors (BCS) often experience declines in physical and psychosocial well-being post-treatment, making supportive interventions essential. Dragon boating(team-based paddling in a long boat) has emerged as a promising, popular exercise for BCS. However, no comprehensive reviews exist on its impacts or participation factors. This scoping review addressed these gaps by examining two research questions (RQ): RQ1) the impacts of dragon boating on BCS' well-being, and RQ2) facilitators and barriers influencing their participation. Methods: Seven databases (PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, PsycInfo, Scopus, CNKI) were used to search for eligible studies from January 1996 to November 2025 involving BCS engaging in dragon boating. Screening from 245 records, 33 articles (18 quantitative, 14 qualitative, 1 mixed-methods) were identified. Results: Among studies addressing RQ1 (n = 27), 24 studies reported at least one benefit on well-being. Dragon boating improved BCS' physical functioning (e.g., upper limb strength, range of motion), psychosocial well-being(e.g.,mental health, posttraumatic growth), and health behaviors(healthier lifestyle), without increasing lymphedema risk. Benefits on biochemical indicators (e.g., anti-inflammatory markers/antioxidant capacity) were less conclusive. For RQ2 (n = 10), common facilitators for joining dragon boating were social support, focus away from cancer, information sharing, and being physically active/competitive; common barriers included feeling not fit enough to participate, reminders of death/cancer recurrence, concerns about cancer identity disclosure, time commitment, and location constraints. Conclusions: Most studies demonstrated the benefits of dragon boating for BCS' physical and psychosocial well-being, but evidence did not support its superiority to other activities. To maximize impacts, addressing facilitators/barriers of participation will be important when designing and implementing dragon boating programs for BCS.

Indexed as

BarriersBreast cancer survivorsDragon boatingFacilitatorsPhysical activityWell-being

Identifiers

PMID41657781
PMCPMC12874123

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.