Abstract
Qualitative research on the impact of physical activity on quality of life (QoL) in adults diagnosed with cancer is accumulating. However, the field of physical activity and cancer survivorship lack a synthesis of this research to reliably understand the implications for future research and practice. The aim of this meta-synthesis was to identify, appraise, and synthesize qualitative research on cancer survivors’ perspectives of the impact of physical activity on their QoL. Seven electronic databases were searched for original studies published in English, and reference lists of relevant studies were hand-searched to identify additional studies. Forty studies met eligibility criteria and were included in this meta-synthesis. Study characteristics and major findings were extracted, and findings were summarized, compared, and synthesized. Themes identified in this review revealed that physical activity positively impacted four dimensions of cancer survivors’ QoL: physical (e.g., managing the physical consequences of cancer and its treatment), psychological (e.g., evoking positive self-perceptions), social (e.g., feeling understood by others), and spiritual (e.g., redefining life purpose). This meta-synthesis corroborates conclusions from reviews of quantitative research and illustrates that physical activity can be used to improve QoL in adult cancer survivors, regardless of diagnosis (i.e., stage, cancer type) and treatment status. It also provides detailed insight into specific aspects within each dimension of QoL impacted by physical activity from cancer survivors’ perspectives, which is important for understanding the meaning and utility of physical activity for them. However, more research is needed to further develop the qualitative evidence base in order to better understand how physical activity impacts on QoL experiences in men, young adults, and adults diagnosed with less common types of cancer at different points along cancer trajectory (i.e., diagnosis, treatment, post-treatment, palliation).
Highlights
Worldwide, approximately 14.1 million people are diagnosed with cancer each year [1]
40 studies reporting qualitative findings related to the impact of physical activity on quality of life (QoL) in cancer survivors met eligibility criteria and were included in this review
The 40 studies that were reviewed, which included men and women diagnosed with various types of cancers, provide convincing evidence that physical activity yields a range of perceived benefits that can be categorized under four broad dimensions of
Summary
Approximately 14.1 million people are diagnosed with cancer each year [1]. Many cancer survivors report adverse physical (e.g., persistent fatigue, pain, weight gain, decreased muscle capacity, reduced immune function) and psychosocial side effects (e.g., psychological distress, anxiety, social isolation, fear of recurrence) that can persist for months or years following treatment [3,4,5,6]. These side effects can have a profound detrimental impact on survivors’. According to Ferrans [10], there are five key dimensions of QoL: (1) physical;
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