AUTHOR=Stalsberg Ragna , Darvik Monica Dahle 

TITLE=Social Representativeness and Intervention Adherence—A Systematic Review of Clinical Physical Activity Trials in Breast Cancer Patients

JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 69 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2024.1607002

DOI=10.3389/ijph.2024.1607002

ISSN=1661-8564

ABSTRACT=Objectives: Representativeness in physical activity RCTs in breast cancer patients is essential to analyses of feasibility and validity considering privileged-and socioeconomic status (SES) groups. A step-by-step exclusion of less privileged through the trial process could reinforce health inequality. The study aimed to examine representativeness in breast cancer (BC) physical activity trials on, investigate associations between SES and intervention adherence, and explore associations between representativeness and the relationship between SES and intervention adherence.Methods: Systematic, computerized searches were performed in PubMed, CINAHL, AMED, EMBASE and PsycINFO. Additional citation-based searches retrieved 37 articles.Distributions of educational-, ethnic-, and groups of married in study samples and country populations were compared to estimate representativeness in less privileged groups.A preponderance of studies favoured educated, married and white patients. Six studies reported SES-adherence associations, hampering conclusions on this relationship and possible associations between representativeness and a SES-adherence relationship.Conclusions: Less educated, unmarried and non-whites may be underrepresented in BC physical activity RCTs, while SES-adherence associations in such trials are inconclusive.Unintentional social misrepresentation may render disguised inequity warranting revived attention.