Effects of Different Psychosocial Interventions on Fear of Cancer Recurrence in Cancer Patients: A Network Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Abstract

Objective: This investigation was conducted to assess and contrast the influence of psychosocial interventions on cancer recurrence among individuals diagnosed with cancer, intending to provide evidence-based guidance for both patients and healthcare providers. Design: The present study exclusively gathered randomized controlled trials (RCTs) via conducting a comprehensive search across multiple databases, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus. This study aimed to compare the impact of psychosocial interventions on the fear of cancer recurrence among individuals diagnosed with cancer. The methodological quality of studies involved in the analysis was assessed using the Cochrane bias risk assessment tool. The data was then analyzed using appropriate software. Results: The RCTs were collected from the earliest possible date until March 2023. The study encompassed 21 RCTs, and the cumulative sample size was 2634. The findings of network meta-analysis indicate that the ConquerFear-HK intervention is associated with a statistically significant reduction in fear of cancer recurrence among individuals with cancer (SUCRA: 99.2%). Conclusion: According to the ranking plot of the network, it can be asserted that the ConquerFear-HK intervention exhibited superior efficacy as a psychological treatment in reducing cancer patients’ fear of cancer relapse.

Keywords

effects psychosocial interventions fear of cancer recurrence cancer patients network meta-analysis

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