A systematic review of psychosocial interventions to improve quality of life of people with cancer and their family caregivers

Abstract

Aims To review the characteristics and effectiveness of psychosocial interventions on quality of life of adult people with cancer and their family caregivers. Design A systematic review using PRISMA guidelines. Methods Seven databases were searched from 2009–2019 using key terms. Included studies were assessed using the Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies. Results 1909 studies were retrieved with 12 studies included, involving 3,390 patients/caregivers. Interventions aimed to improve communication, behaviour change and setting short‐term goals. Duration of interventions varied from 4–17 weeks. Highest benefit was gained from telephone interventions. Interventions based on interpersonal counselling appeared more effective than other approaches. Studies predominantly focused on psychological, physical and social domains of quality of life. Spiritual well‐being received relatively little attention. A paradigm shift is needed to develop psychosocial interventions that incorporate spiritual well‐being. More research is needed in developing countries.

Improving the Quality of Life of Adults With Cancer and Their Family Caregivers in Sub-saharan Africa: Intervention Development

“…There is some evidence, mostly from HICs, that psychosocial interventions have the potential to improve the QoL of people with cancer and/or families (13)(14)(15), but most of these interventions lack concepts that are essential to LMICs. Additionally, there is even knowledge gap in applying those interventions in LMICs where the cancer/caregiving burden is highest and the demand for resources is greatest (16).…”

“…The researchers completed a systematic review (14) and quantitative needs survey of adult with cancer and their family caregivers (7) to de ne the problem, select and specify target behaviour. (see Figure 3) These components provided an in-depth evaluation of the interventions available internationally and within the African continent as well as the ongoing psychosocial/spiritual and information needs impact on the QoL of adult Nigerians living with cancer and their families, and the relationship between the study variables.…”

“…The systematic review was motivated by the need to assess the characteristics and e cacy of interventions on QoL of adults with cancer and their family caregivers, especially in LMICs such as Nigeria (14). Given the fact that LMICs have high cancer and caregiver burdens, none of the 12 studies included in the systematic review were conducted in LMICs, and interventions tested in HICs may not be appropriate in LMICs for obvious reasons.…”

Evaluations of psychosocial cancer support services: A scoping review

“…There is some indication of the efficacy of psychosocial support for patients with cancer in improving the quality of life, decreasing levels of distress and the risk for developing depression or anxiety disorders [11][12][13][14][15]. The interventions tested for efficacy and summarized in the reviews are largely controlled and standardized to reduce the likelihood of experimental bias.…”

A study protocol for a multicenter randomized pilot trial of a dyadic, tailored, web-based, psychosocial, and physical activity self-management program (TEMPO) for men with prostate cancer and their caregivers

“…A number of interventions have been developed to address caregivers’ unmet supportive care needs and enhance their quality of life (QOL) [ 8 – 10 ]. Most of these interventions are grounded in the principles of psycho-education and self-management to effectively address caregivers’ psychosocial and emotional needs [ 8 , 9 , 11 ], but fail to incorporate strategies to enhance caregivers’ physical well-being. As such, emerging literature [ 12 , 13 ] has focused on incorporating regular physical activity (PA) into self-management interventions as a strategy to curtail the negative physical and emotional sequela associated with cancer caregiving.…”