Physical activity and physical fitness assessments in adolescents and young adults diagnosed with cancer: a scoping review

Purpose This scoping review describes the assessment methodologies for physical activity (PA) and physical fitness assessments used in studies focusing on adolescents and young adults (AYAs) diagnosed with cancer. Methods A search of the literature was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library following the PRISMA-ScR statement. A total of 34 studies were included in this review. Results PA was primarily assessed via self-reported questionnaires (30/34) either completed in-person ( n = 17) or online ( n = 13) at different time points and different stages along the cancer trajectory (i.e., from diagnosis onward). A total of 9 studies conducted a physical fitness assessment. Conclusions PA and physical fitness measurements are key when trying to describe outcomes, assess for associations, track changes, measure intervention adherence, and test intervention efficacy and effectiveness. Considerable heterogeneity across studies was reported limiting the generation of formal recommendations or guidance for researchers, healthcare providers, and policy makers. Graphical Abstract