Associated factors of hope in cancer patients during treatment: A systematic literature review

J Adv Nurs. 2020 Jul;76(7):1520-1537. doi: 10.1111/jan.14344. Epub 2020 Mar 20.

Abstract

Aim: To identify the associated factors of hope during treatment in cancer patients.

Background: Hope is very important to cancer patients at all stages of the disease process. Hope is seen as an important coping mechanism. Most research about hope in cancer patients considered the end of life or in palliative care. Several and different factors are associated with hope. It is not yet sufficiently clear which factors are associated with hope during the treatment.

Design: A systematic literature review of quantitative empirical studies on hope in cancer patients during treatment.

Data sources: Search in MEDLINE (PubMed interface), CINAHL (EBSCO interface), Psychinfo and Cochrane (January 2009-December 2018).

Review methods: Empirical quantitative studies were included regardless of the disease stage, written in English or Dutch, measuring hope from the perspective of cancer patients. Two authors independently screened all the studies and assessed their quality.

Results: Thirty-three studies were included. Positive relationship has been established between hope and quality of life, social support, spiritual and existential well-being. Hope appears to be negatively associated with symptom burden, psychological distress and depression. There appears to be no relationship between hope and demographic and clinical variables. The relationship between anxiety and hope remains unclear.

Conclusions: Hope primarily seems to be a process that takes place in a person's inner being rather than being determined from outside.

Impact: Health professionals may want to focus on the meaning of hope for cancer patients in relation to the associated factors. A better understanding of the meaning of hope during treatment can be of great value in supporting cancer patients with regard to treatment decisions, psychosocial support, the experienced quality of life and symptom burden and any wishes they may have with regard to advanced care planning.

目的: 探讨治疗期癌症患者的希望相关因子。 背景: 对于各阶段的癌症患者而言,希望都是一件非常重要的事情。希望被视为一种重要的应对机制。大多数关于癌症患者希望的研究都考虑临终关怀或姑息治疗。有多个不同的因素会涉及到希望。但目前尚不清楚治疗期间中哪些因素与希望有关。 设计: 治疗期癌症患者希望的定量实证研究的系统性文献综述。 数据来源: 在MEDLINE联机医学文献分析和检索系统(PubMed因特网生物医学信息检索系统界面)、CINAHL护理学数据库(EBSCO数据库界面)、Psychinfo心理学文摘数据库和Cochrane协作网中进行搜索(2009年1月至2018年12月)。 审查方法: 纳入以英语或荷兰语撰写的衡量各阶段癌症患者希望的实证定量研究。两位作者对所有研究独立进行筛选,并对其质量做出评估。 结果: 纳入33个研究项目。在希望与生活质量、社会支持、心灵和存在幸福感之间建立积极的关系。希望似乎与症状负荷、心理困扰和抑郁呈负相关的关系。希望与人口统计学和临床的各种因素之间似乎没有关联。并且,焦虑和希望之间的关系仍不明朗。 结论: 希望主要是产生自人内心的过程,而不由外界决定。 影响: 卫生医护人员可能侧重于癌症患者希望相关因子的意义。更好地理解希望在治疗期的意义,对于在治疗决策、心理社会支持、生活质量和症状负荷的感同身受以及其在晚期护理规划上的愿望方面支持癌症患者有着重要的价值。.

Keywords: associated factors; cancer patients; cancer treatment; hope; literature review; neoplasms; nursing; patients perspective; quantitative research; systematic review.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Hope
  • Humans
  • Neoplasms* / therapy
  • Palliative Care
  • Quality of Life*