Integrating psycho-oncology into medical physical education curricula: A systematic review of simulated patient-based exercise counseling

This systematic review investigates the effectiveness of simulation-based education in equipping medical and allied health students with competencies in exercise counseling and psycho-oncological support for individuals with cancer. As holistic cancer care increasingly emphasizes the integration of psychological support and physical activity guidance, medical education must evolve to address these dual demands. A comprehensive literature search across PubMed and the Web of Science Core Collection identified studies published between 2000 and 2025. Following PRISMA guidelines, 20 eligible studies were analyzed. Simulation modalities included standardized patients, high-fidelity mannequins, virtual platforms, and hybrid formats. Findings consistently demonstrate that simulation enhances learners’ communication skills, counseling self-efficacy, empathy, and readiness to navigate emotionally complex scenarios involving oncology patients. Thematic synthesis revealed gains across cognitive, behavioral, and affective learning domains. This is the first systematic review to examine how simulated patient-based exercise counseling can function as an interdisciplinary bridge between physical education and psycho-oncology. The results underscore the pedagogical value of integrating behavior change theory, simulation-based learning, and emotional realism into medical curricula to better prepare future healthcare professionals for the psychosocial and physical complexities of cancer care.