Methods and Digital Technology Solutions to Monitor Physical Activity in Paediatric Oncology Patients: A Scoping Review Protocol
Abstract
Physical activity (PA) plays a critical role in supporting recovery and improving overall health outcomes in paediatric oncology patients, who commonly experience cancer and treatment related side effects such as fatigue, reduced muscle strength, decreased cardiorespiratory fitness, and an increased risk of long-term chronic conditions. Despite well-established PA guidelines, many children and adolescents undergoing or recovering from cancer treatment fail to achieve recommended activity levels. Barriers include physical limitations, psychological distress, treatment-related symptoms, and limited availability of structured PA programmes integrated within clinical care. These challenges underscore the need for accessible, feasible, and engaging PA interventions tailored to this vulnerable population. In recent years, digital health solutions have emerged as promising tools to support PA promotion and monitoring. Technologies such as augmented reality, gamification, wearable activity trackers, and mobile health applications offer opportunities for remote monitoring, personalised feedback, and increased motivation. These tools may help overcome traditional barriers by enabling flexible, home-based PA engagement and facilitating real-time data collection. However, the extent to which such digital instruments effectively capture PA behaviours and influence activity levels in paediatric oncology remains unclear. This scoping review aimed to address existing gaps in the literature by systematically identifying and mapping the instruments used to monitor PA in paediatric oncology patients during active cancer treatment. Both conventional methods, including questionnaires and observational measures, and digital approaches, such as wearables and app-based monitoring systems, were examined. By synthesising current evidence, this review seeks to provide an overview of available PA monitoring tools, highlight methodological trends and limitations, and inform future research and intervention development in paediatric oncology care.
Keywords: Paediatric oncology; cancer; physical activity monitoring; augmented reality; digital solutions; gamification
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