Psycho-Social Interventions for Psychological Distress and Quality of Life among Women with Breast Cancer – A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Objective: To systematically review the effect of various psycho-social interventions on psychological distress and Quality of life among women with breast cancer. Methods: We have conducted a systematic review of RCTs on psycho-social interventions for women with breast cancer that are published from 2005 to 2016. Databases such as PubMed, Cochrane Library, CTRI, IndMED and Google scholar were searched. Inclusion criteria were women diagnosed with breast cancer (Grade I-III) aged between 18-65 years and studies which addressed any kind of psychosocial interventions for breast cancer cases. Results: six studies out of 233 studies were included for qualitative analysis with a total of 1404 participants and only four were included for meta-analysis. Mode of delivery of the intervention was varied across studies such as face to face education intervention, direct face to face interaction with telephonic interaction, direct individual as well as group sessions and direct session along with Audio-visual methods. Conclusion: The review suggests tentatively that nurse-led interventions delivered in person or by telephone could provide valuable improvements in illness-specific QoL and mood, as part of a package of cancer care.

Keywords

• psycho-social interventions
• breast cancer
• women
• quality of life
• psychological distress
• systematic review
• meta-analysis