Qualitative exploration of the perceptions of exercise in patients with cancer initiated during chemotherapy: a meta-synthesis

Objective To synthesise qualitative literature on (1) the perceptions of patients with cancer of participating in an exercise intervention while undergoing chemotherapy and (2) to inform and guide professionals in oncology and haematology practice.Design A qualitative meta-synthesis based on Noblit...

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Main Authors: Karin Piil, Anders Larsen, Mary Jarden, Tom Møller, Lis Adamsen, Hanne Baekgaard Larsen, Christina Andersen, Christina Sadolin Damhus, Malene Missel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2023-12-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/12/e074266.full
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author Karin Piil
Anders Larsen
Mary Jarden
Tom Møller
Lis Adamsen
Hanne Baekgaard Larsen
Christina Andersen
Christina Sadolin Damhus
Malene Missel
author_facet Karin Piil
Anders Larsen
Mary Jarden
Tom Møller
Lis Adamsen
Hanne Baekgaard Larsen
Christina Andersen
Christina Sadolin Damhus
Malene Missel
author_sort Karin Piil
collection DOAJ
description Objective To synthesise qualitative literature on (1) the perceptions of patients with cancer of participating in an exercise intervention while undergoing chemotherapy and (2) to inform and guide professionals in oncology and haematology practice.Design A qualitative meta-synthesis based on Noblit and Hare’s seven-step meta-ethnography.Data sources Six electronic databases: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), CINAHL, EMBASE, PubMed, SCI-Expanded—SSCI and Scopus (final search June 2022) were used to identify qualitative literature containing individual or focus group interviews. The transparency of reporting for each study was assessed using the Consolidated criteria for Reporting Qualitative research checklist.Results The search identified 5002 articles, 107 of which were selected for full-text review. Seventeen articles from five countries with patients undergoing chemotherapy during exercise interventions were included. Eleven articles were included in the meta-synthesis, which comprised 193 patients with various cancer diagnoses, disease stages, sexes and ages. Four main themes were identified: chemotherapy overpowers the body; exercise in battle with side effects; a break from gloomy thoughts; and a question of survivorship.Conclusions and implications The meta-synthesis emphasised that patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy and simultaneously participating in exercise interventions may experience momentary relief from overwhelming side effects, even though full bodily recovery may be perceived as a distant prospect. The synthesis offers a sparse empirical basis for gaining insight into what patients experience existentially following exercise interventions. It is up to patients to independently apply the transfer value of exercise to their own existential circumstances.
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spelling doaj-art-ab470c53e8b64eec9c08b60f65b7f7fa2025-08-20T03:11:10ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552023-12-01131210.1136/bmjopen-2023-074266Qualitative exploration of the perceptions of exercise in patients with cancer initiated during chemotherapy: a meta-synthesisKarin Piil0Anders Larsen1Mary Jarden2Tom Møller3Lis Adamsen4Hanne Baekgaard Larsen5Christina Andersen6Christina Sadolin Damhus7Malene Missel86 Dept. of Oncology, Centre for Cancer and Organ Diseases, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, DenmarkCenter for Health Research (UCSF), Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, DenmarkDepartment of Public Health, University of Copenhagen Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Copenhagen, DenmarkCenter for Health Research (UCSF), Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, DenmarkCenter for Health Research (UCSF), Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, DenmarkDepartment of Public Health, University of Copenhagen Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Copenhagen, DenmarkCenter for Health Research (UCSF), Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, DenmarkDepartment of Public Health, University of Copenhagen Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Copenhagen, DenmarkDepartment of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, DenmarkObjective To synthesise qualitative literature on (1) the perceptions of patients with cancer of participating in an exercise intervention while undergoing chemotherapy and (2) to inform and guide professionals in oncology and haematology practice.Design A qualitative meta-synthesis based on Noblit and Hare’s seven-step meta-ethnography.Data sources Six electronic databases: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), CINAHL, EMBASE, PubMed, SCI-Expanded—SSCI and Scopus (final search June 2022) were used to identify qualitative literature containing individual or focus group interviews. The transparency of reporting for each study was assessed using the Consolidated criteria for Reporting Qualitative research checklist.Results The search identified 5002 articles, 107 of which were selected for full-text review. Seventeen articles from five countries with patients undergoing chemotherapy during exercise interventions were included. Eleven articles were included in the meta-synthesis, which comprised 193 patients with various cancer diagnoses, disease stages, sexes and ages. Four main themes were identified: chemotherapy overpowers the body; exercise in battle with side effects; a break from gloomy thoughts; and a question of survivorship.Conclusions and implications The meta-synthesis emphasised that patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy and simultaneously participating in exercise interventions may experience momentary relief from overwhelming side effects, even though full bodily recovery may be perceived as a distant prospect. The synthesis offers a sparse empirical basis for gaining insight into what patients experience existentially following exercise interventions. It is up to patients to independently apply the transfer value of exercise to their own existential circumstances.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/12/e074266.full
spellingShingle Karin Piil
Anders Larsen
Mary Jarden
Tom Møller
Lis Adamsen
Hanne Baekgaard Larsen
Christina Andersen
Christina Sadolin Damhus
Malene Missel
Qualitative exploration of the perceptions of exercise in patients with cancer initiated during chemotherapy: a meta-synthesis
BMJ Open
title Qualitative exploration of the perceptions of exercise in patients with cancer initiated during chemotherapy: a meta-synthesis
title_full Qualitative exploration of the perceptions of exercise in patients with cancer initiated during chemotherapy: a meta-synthesis
title_fullStr Qualitative exploration of the perceptions of exercise in patients with cancer initiated during chemotherapy: a meta-synthesis
title_full_unstemmed Qualitative exploration of the perceptions of exercise in patients with cancer initiated during chemotherapy: a meta-synthesis
title_short Qualitative exploration of the perceptions of exercise in patients with cancer initiated during chemotherapy: a meta-synthesis
title_sort qualitative exploration of the perceptions of exercise in patients with cancer initiated during chemotherapy a meta synthesis
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/13/12/e074266.full
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