Problem identification: With poor prognosis and debilitating symptoms, gliomas affect not only patients' physical health, but also their psychological well-being. A systematic review was conducted to explore the experiences, needs, and coping mechanisms of adult patients with gliomas.
Literature search: A literature search was performed in Cochrane Library, PubMed®, Embase®, MEDLINE®, Scopus®, PsycINFO®, CINAHL®, CNKI, and Wan Fang for studies published from January 1999 to December 2019.
Data evaluation: The selected studies were assessed by two independent reviewers to determine methodologic quality. Meta-aggregation was used to synthesize the findings.
Synthesis: Three overarching themes were developed.
Implications for practice: The findings from this systematic review provide data related to the experiences of patients with gliomas, which can inform practice changes and interventions aimed at enhancing patients' quality of life.
Keywords: gliomas; living experiences; qualitative research; quality of life; symptom burden.