Nurse-Led Psychological Interventions For Depression In Adult Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

Dominique Cranstoun; Michael Baliousis; Hannah Lena Merdian; Mike Rennoldson

doi:10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2024.03.028

Nurse-Led Psychological Interventions For Depression In Adult Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

J Pain Symptom Manage. 2024 Apr 6:S0885-3924(24)00706-1. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2024.03.028. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Dominique Cranstoun¹, Michael Baliousis², Hannah Lena Merdian³, Mike Rennoldson⁴

Affiliations

¹ School of Psychology (D.C., M.B., H.L.M.), University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool, Lincoln LN6 7TS, United Kingdom. Electronic address: 27162877@students.lincoln.ac.uk.
² School of Psychology (D.C., M.B., H.L.M.), University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool, Lincoln LN6 7TS, United Kingdom; Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (M.B., M.R.), Queens Medical Centre, Derby Road, Nottingham NG7 2UH, United Kingdom.
³ School of Psychology (D.C., M.B., H.L.M.), University of Lincoln, Brayford Pool, Lincoln LN6 7TS, United Kingdom.
⁴ Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (M.B., M.R.), Queens Medical Centre, Derby Road, Nottingham NG7 2UH, United Kingdom.

PMID: 38583500
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2024.03.028

Abstract

Objectives: Depression, frequently associated with cancer, significantly impacts health outcomes, necessitating effective treatments. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to synthesize and critically evaluate the evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) for the efficacy of nurse-led psychological interventions in managing depression among adult cancer patients. It focuses on the unique contribution of these interventions to improving depression management in oncology care, an underrepresented area in the existing literature.

Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search in databases including Scopus, Medline, CINAHL, and PsycINFO, applying strict criteria to select RCTs assessing nurse-led psychological interventions for depression in cancer patients. We used the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool to assess study quality.

Results: Out of 425 screened abstracts, nine papers describing seven distinct interventions involving 1463 participants were selected. The overall effect size estimate of -0.75 (95% confidence interval: -1.23 to -0.27) indicates significant effectiveness of these interventions in reducing depression compared to treatment as usual. Additionally, the calculated prediction interval highlights the variability in effectiveness across different settings, suggesting that contextual factors play a crucial role in the success of these interventions.

Conclusion: The findings advocate for the integration of nurse-led psychological interventions into standard cancer care, highlighting their efficacy in improving depressive symptoms in adult cancer patients. These interventions show promise but require further refinement and research to optimize their effectiveness across diverse patient groups and healthcare settings. This review underscores the potential of nurse-led psychological interventions in enriching oncology care and addresses a critical gap in the existing body of research.

Keywords: Cancer; Depression; Evidence-based nursing; Meta-analysis; Nurse; Oncology; Psychosocial intervention; RCT; Systematic review.

Publication types

Review