Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42684658›Full record

ArticleJournal of cancer survivorship : research and practice2026

One step forward, two steps back: a qualitative study of clinical perspectives on implementing exercise in neuro-oncology care.

Julia T Daun, Gloria Roldan Urgoiti, Mannat Bansal, Meghan H McDonough, Lauren C Capozzi, Jacob C Easaw, Margaret L McNeely, George J Francis, S Nicole Culos-Reed

Registry-linked trialAbstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT04831190 (ACE-Neuro), which is not on this map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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

NCT04831190 naunknown statusnot on this map

ACE-Neuro: A Tailored Exercise Oncology Program for Neuro-Oncology Patients

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversity of CalgaryRan2021 to 2024Enrolled70ConditionsCancer, Brain Tumor, PrimaryArmsTailored Exercise Intervention
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

9 authors.

Julia T DaunFaculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada. jtdaun@ucalgary.ca.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0343-6654
Gloria Roldan UrgoitiDepartment of Medical Oncology, Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Cancer Care Alberta, Calgary, AB, T2N 5G2, Canada.
Mannat BansalFaculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada.
Meghan H McDonoughFaculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada.
Lauren C CapozziBC Cancer, Kelowna, BC, V1Y 5L3, Canada.
Jacob C EasawDepartment of Medical Oncology, Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1Z2, Canada.
Margaret L McNeelyDepartment of Physical Therapy, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2G4, Canada.
George J FrancisDepartment of Medical Oncology, Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Cancer Care Alberta, Calgary, AB, T2N 5G2, Canada.
S Nicole Culos-ReedFaculty of Kinesiology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, T2N 1N4, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundNeuro-oncology care lacks an exercise referral pathway and tailored exercise programming. The Alberta Cancer Exercise-Neuro-Oncology (i.e., ACE-Neuro) study was implemented and evaluated for feasibility and effectiveness to address this lack of resources. The purpose of the present study was to understand healthcare provider, exercise specialist, and cancer care administrator perspectives on the role of exercise in neuro-oncology.

methodsA qualitative study design using interpretive description was conducted. Clinical team members involved in the referral to and delivery of ACE-Neuro were invited for a semi-structured interview. Interviews were scheduled either in-person or remotely. Analysis was conducted by a transdisciplinary team including collaboration with a neuro-oncology clinical partner.

resultsA total of n = 10 clinical team members participated. Mean interview length was 35:44 ± 17.49 min. Three themes were created during analyses: (1) The Gateway: Optimizing Exercise Referral in Neuro-Oncology, (2) The Building Blocks: Championing a Tailored Neuro-Oncology Exercise Model, and (3) Beyond the Short-Term: Neuro-Oncology Needs a Stronger Voice in Funding and Policy. These themes highlight that the clinical team perceived an electronic medical record referral pathway as feasible, tailored exercise is non-negotiable for neuro-oncology patients, and funding and policy were identified as major barriers to sustainable exercise programming.

conclusionThis study offers new insights into how exercise is implemented within neuro-oncology care from the clinical perspective. A systematic focus on optimizing referral pathways, championing the delivery of personalized programming, and bridging policy and system-level strategies for long-term program sustainability are key to advancing the field of neuro-oncology. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: From the perspective of clinicians, integrating exercise into routine neuro-oncology care requires methodical referral pathways and tailored exercise program delivery. Clinicians also believe that long-term sustainability will require administrative and policy support to ensure access to supportive care resources for those living with brain cancer. These implementation strategies have the potential to improve patient access to evidence-based and individualized neuro-oncology exercise resources. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION: NCT04831190 ( https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT04831190 ).

Indexed as

Clinical perspectivesExercise oncologyImplementationNeuro-oncologyPolicy and fundingQualitative researchReferral pathways

Identifiers

PMID42684658

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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.