The effectiveness of online interventions for patients with gynecological cancer: An integrative review

Huicong Lin; Mingzhu Ye; Sally Wai-Chi Chan; Jiemin Zhu; Honggu He

doi:10.1016/j.ygyno.2020.04.690

The effectiveness of online interventions for patients with gynecological cancer: An integrative review

Gynecol Oncol. 2020 Jul;158(1):143-152. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2020.04.690. Epub 2020 Apr 24.

Authors

Huicong Lin¹, Mingzhu Ye², Sally Wai-Chi Chan³, Jiemin Zhu⁴, Honggu He⁵

Affiliations

¹ School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Fujian Province, PR China.
² Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Zhongshan Hospital, Xiamen University, Fujian Province, PR China.
³ UON Singapore Campus, University of Newcastle, Australia.
⁴ School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Fujian Province, PR China. Electronic address: Jieminzhu@xmu.edu.cn.
⁵ Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.

PMID: 32340692
DOI: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2020.04.690

Abstract

Objective: With advantages of easy accessibility and various multimedia interactivity formats, online interventions have been developed to improve health outcomes for patients with a variety of gynecological cancers, but evidence regarding their effectiveness for such patients is not well-understood. This review aimed to synthesize study findings that were published in English or Chinese regarding the effectiveness of online interventions on the quality of life, symptom distress, social support, psychological distress, sexual well-being, and body image in patients with gynecological cancer.

Methods: This integrative review adhered to five steps, including problem identification, literature search, quality appraisal, data analysis, and presentation. Ten electronic databases (MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, SpringerLink, PubMed, Wiley Online Journals, Web of Science, OVID, CINAHL Plus with Full Text, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Cochrane Library) were searched from the inception of each database to April 2019 in accordance with the rigid and explicit inclusion and exclusion criteria. Version 2018 of the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used for the quality appraisal of the articles.

Results: Out of 276 articles, 24 potentially eligible articles were initially identified. A manual search retrieved an additional eligible three articles. After nine articles were excluded, ten quantitative, six qualitative, and two mixed-methods articles were finally included. Online interventions improved quality of life and body images in patients with gynecological cancer, but there were inconclusive effects on symptom distress, social support, psychological distress, and sexual well-being.

Conclusions: Online interventions have been increasingly used as clinically promising interventions to promote health outcomes among patients with gynecological cancer. Studies with more rigorous designs and sufficient sample sizes are needed to elucidate the effectiveness of such online interventions. Healthcare workers can incorporate existing or new online interventions into their routine care to improve health outcomes for patients with gynecological cancer.

Keywords: Gynecological cancer; Integrative review; Online intervention; Quality of life; Social support; Symptom distress.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Review

MeSH terms

Female
Genital Neoplasms, Female / psychology
Genital Neoplasms, Female / therapy*
Humans
Internet-Based Intervention*
Quality of Life
Telemedicine*