CC BY 4.0 DEED Attribution 4.0 InternationalYoung, JulieLloyd, AnnaHaraldsdottir, Erna2024-01-182024-01-182024-01-042023-09-21Young, J., Lloyd, A. and Haraldsdottir, E. (2024) ‘A qualitative meta-synthesis of studies of patients’ experience of exercise interventions in advanced cancer’, Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences, 4, p. 1298553. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3389/fresc.2023.1298553.https://eresearch.qmu.ac.uk/handle/20.500.12289/13652https://doi.org/10.3389/fresc.2023.1298553From Frontiers via Jisc Publications RouterHistory: collection 2023, received 2023-09-21, accepted 2023-12-11, epub 2024-01-04Peer reviewed: TruePublication status: PublishedErna Haraldsdottir - ORCID: 0000-0003-4891-0743 https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4891-0743Background: People with advanced cancer often experience reduced functional capacity and quality of life. Research evaluating the potential benefit of exercise programmes for limiting such decline is accumulating. However, an appraisal of the evidence that considers the patient experience of exercise programmes, what mattered to them and what motivated and encouraged them to engage in exercise, has not been published. The aim of this meta-synthesis was to identify, appraise and bring together evidence from qualitative research in this area. Methods: Four databases were searched from 2nd January to 8th January 2023 for relevant studies. Qualitative studies investigating the experience of exercise as an intervention for adults with advanced cancer were included. Major findings and study characteristics were extracted. Findings were summarised, compared, and synthesised using meta-synthesis. Results: Eight studies were eligible and generated seven sub themes which informed the construction of three key themes: (1) Impact of Delivery Method; (2) Emerging Motivation; and (3) Physical Impact. Conclusion: The analysis revealed that exercise has the potential to positively influence all four dimensions of well-being: physical, psychological, social, and spiritual, for people with advanced cancer. Future research is required to consider the differential impact that the type, volume, and duration of exercise may have on the exercise experience for this patient group.Licence for this article: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/© 2024 Young, Lloyd and Haraldsdottir. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ExperiencesAdvanced CancerRehabilitationExercise InterventionQualitative AnalysisPalliative CareMeta-synthesisarticle2024-01-18