ArticleBMC public health2026
Comparative effects of supervised and unsupervised physical activity on physical fitness among doctoral scholars: a non-randomized parallel-group feasibility trial.
Article in BMC public health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundDoctoral scholars face unique health challenges due to limited time to engage in health-enhancing physical activity (PA). However, limited research has explored the effects of PA in this population. This non-randomized parallel-group feasibility trial aimed to compare the effects of supervised PA (SPA) and unsupervised PA (USPA) on physical fitness and cognitive function among university doctoral scholars.
methodsThirty-seven physically inactive doctoral scholars (age: 26.9 ± 2.4 years; BMI: 23.7 ± 2.3 kg/m²) from two institutional clusters of a university were assigned to one of two interventions: SPA (n = 19) or USPA (n = 18). Participants engaged in a structured program of resistance exercises (elastic bands and bodyweight) three times per week for six weeks, either under supervision or independently. Physical fitness (cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular endurance and flexibility) and cognitive function (inhibitory control accuracy) were assessed pre- and post-intervention.
resultsSignificant effects of baseline values were observed for upper limb endurance (p = 0.041) and lower limb endurance (p = 0.035), with no significant group or interaction effects. Flexibility, cardiorespiratory fitness, and cognitive outcomes did not demonstrate significant changes. Adherence was significantly higher in the SPA group compared to the USPA, although compliance in both groups declined from the third week onward, reaching its lowest in week six.
conclusionsWhile PA interventions may support maintenance of fitness levels among doctoral scholars, the mode of delivery whether supervised or unsupervised did not result in differential improvements across most parameters. However, higher adherence observed in the supervised group highlights the importance of structured support in sustaining participation. Baseline fitness levels appear to play a significant role in determining outcomes, emphasizing the need for individualized approaches.
trial registrationProspectively registered in Clinical Trials Registry, India (CTRI/2025/05/087307) on 21 May 2025.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What Socratic holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.