Understanding Participant Characteristics of Who Is Accessing Breast Cancer Exercise Trials: A Scoping Review of Canadian Trials Over the Last 10 Years

Purpose: To explore participant characteristics of exercise oncology trials in Canada over the past 10 years for individuals with a current or past diagnosis of breast cancer. Method: Six databases were searched from 2014 to January 2024. Studies that involved adults ≥18 years old with a current or past diagnosis of breast cancer and a physical activity/exercise clinical trial of any kind and took place in Canada in the last 10 years were included. Two independent reviewers completed all screening and data extraction. Data were summarized narratively, and descriptive statistics were provided where applicable. Results: Forty studies were included in the review. Most participants were White women, diagnosed with stage II breast cancer, with a mean age of 51.7 years. The remaining participants identified as Asian, Hispanic, Indigenous, Black, or other. Most studies excluded participants with stage IV breast cancer. A combination of resistance and aerobic based interventions were most common. Conclusions: Disparities in access to exercise oncology trials for individuals with breast cancer result in a consistent demographic being represented, while many populations remain excluded from the research. These findings highlight the need for future research to address the gaps in accessibility present in Canada.