Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41848867›Full record

SynthesisSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2026

A systematic review of patient and healthcare professional perceptions of the barriers and facilitators to embedding exercise in the adjuvant cancer treatment pathway.

Sarah Hodge, Jordan Curry, Julie Walabyeki, John M Saxton, Victoria Brown, Maureen Twiddy

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 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. 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 · 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

6 authors.

Sarah HodgeHull York Medical School, Institute of Clinical and Applied Health Research, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull, UK.
Jordan CurryWolfson Palliative Care Research Centre, Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull, UK.
Julie WalabyekiScreening and Diagnostic Pathways Research Group, Hull York Medical School, Cancer Awareness, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull, UK.
John M SaxtonSchool of Sport, Exercise & Rehabilitation Sciences, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull, UK.
Victoria BrownAcademic Department of Oncology, Queen's Centre for Oncology and Haematology, Castle Hill Hospital, Cottingham, Hull, UK.
Maureen TwiddyHull York Medical School, Institute of Clinical and Applied Health Research, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Hull, UK. maureen.twiddy@hyms.ac.uk.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeEvidence suggests that physical activity and exercise interventions can mitigate cancer treatment side effects. However, an improved understanding of how physical activity/exercise can be embedded within cancer care pathways is needed. We examined what is known about the barriers and facilitators to implementing physical activity/exercise interventions in the adjuvant cancer treatment pathway from a patient and healthcare professional perspective. The protocol was registered a priori with PROSPERO in March 2023.

methodsElectronic databases (CINAHL Plus, MEDLINE, PsycINFO and Cochrane) were searched for quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods evidence from 2004 to 2025. Quality appraisal was undertaken using the appropriate Critical Appraisal Skills Programme tools. Barriers and facilitators were inductively coded into themes and then mapped to the Capability-Opportunity-Motivation-Behaviour (COM-B) model and Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). Thematic meta-synthesis was applied to the data.

resultsFifteen qualitative, twelve quantitative and two mixed methods studies met the inclusion criteria. Three core themes emerged that influenced implementation: exercise intervention, organisational setting and impact of cancer. The barriers and facilitators identified by patient and healthcare professional participants were relevant to all the COM-B constructs, with the most prevalent TDF domains being skills, knowledge, environmental context and resources, social influences and optimism.

conclusionFindings emphasise knowledge and education, previous experience with exercise, resources, motivation, gender, age, social factors, positive promotion, individualised programming throughout treatment and access to credible practitioners as nuanced perspectives between patients and healthcare professionals. These converging perspectives are influential determinants to help identify potential solutions for embedding exercise within cancer treatment pathways.

Indexed as

Attitude of Health PersonnelExerciseExercise TherapyNeoplasmsHumansMotivationBarriersCancerCancer patientChemotherapyExerciseFacilitatorsHealthcare professionalPerceptionsPhysical activityRadiotherapy

Identifiers

PMID41848867
PMCPMC12999592

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.