SynthesisPsycho-oncology2016
Life goals in patients with cancer: a systematic review of the literature.
Synthesis in Psycho-oncology, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 36 papers.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
36 citing papers in PubMed.
- Goal-Focused Emotion-Regulation Therapy (GET) in Young Adult Testicular Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Pilot Study.Annals of behavioral medicine : a publication of the Society of Behavioral Medicine · 2023Trial
- Goal disturbance and emotional symptoms in patients with cancer.Journal of behavioral medicine · 2026Article
- "Fear Has Big Eyes": Illness Perception, Fear of Recurrence, and Generalized Anxiety in Post-Treatment Thoracic Cancer Patients: A Serial Multiple Analysis.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
- Conceptual Development Informing the Kidney Failure Patient Life Goals Survey.Kidney medicine · 2026Article
- Structural Validity and Reliability of a Tool for Clinical Rehabilitation Staff to Evaluate Life-Goal-Setting Practice for Cancer Survivors.Current oncology (Toronto, Ont.) · 2025Article
- Acceptance in Patients With Cancer: A Scoping Review.Cancer reports (Hoboken, N.J.) · 2025Article
- Thinking About the Future: Relationships Between Time Perspective, Peace of Mind, and Goal Navigation Among Young Adults With Cancer.Cancer care research online · 2025Article
- Article
- Young Adult Cancer Survivors' Perspectives on Cancer's Impact on Different Life Areas Post-Treatment: A Qualitative Study.Journal of adolescent and young adult oncology · 2024Article
- A digital, coach-assisted intervention to address the psychosocial needs of young adult cancer survivors: Randomized controlled trial protocol and intervention adaptation process.Contemporary clinical trials · 2024Article
- Toward an improved conceptualization of emotions in patients with cancer.Frontiers in psychiatry · 2024Review
- Life Goal Domains, Traits, and Setting Process in the Collaboration between Healthcare Professionals and Cancer Survivors: A Scoping Review.Progress in rehabilitation medicine · 2024Article
- Development and validation of a measure of adolescent and young adult goal-based quality of life (MAYA-GQOL).Quality of life research : an international journal of quality of life aspects of treatment, care and rehabilitation · 2023Article
- Longitudinal evolution of meaning in life and its relationship with coping strategies in Spanish patients with a breast cancer diagnosis.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2023Article
- Goals and goal perceptions in patients with advanced stage lung cancer: a mixed methods study.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2023Article
- Article
- Experience of oncology nurses with cancer survivors during transition from acute oncology treatment to primary care.Canadian oncology nursing journal = Revue canadienne de nursing oncologique · 2023Article
- Navigating Still Waters of Infertility: Role of Goal Features in Coping with a Thwarted Goal.International journal of behavioral medicine · 2022Article
- Developing pathways, a hope-enhancing intervention for metastatic lung cancer patients receiving cancer treatment.Psycho-oncology · 2021Article
- Cancer patient perspectives on survivorship goals from the Smart Patients online community.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectivePurposes of this systematic review of life goal research in cancer patients were to (1) identify life goal characteristics and processes being examined, (2) describe instruments used to assess life goal constructs, (3) identify theoretical models being used to guide research, and (4) summarize what is known about the impact of the cancer experience on life goal characteristics, processes, and psychological outcomes.
methodsWe conducted this systematic review using MEDLINE, PubMed, CINAHL, and PsycINFO databases. Inclusion criteria were as follows: (1) published between 1993 and 2014, (2) English language, (3) cancer patient population, and (4) original research articles that assessed life goal characteristics and/or goal processes. One hundred ninety-seven articles were screened and 27 included in the final review.
resultsSeven life goal characteristics and seven life goal processes were identified, and less than half of studies investigated associations between goal characteristics and processes. Conceptual definitions were not provided for about half of the identified life goal constructs. Studies used both validated and author-developed instruments to assess goal constructs. Twenty-four different theoretical models were identified, with self-regulation theory most frequently cited. Overall, the literature suggests that cancer impacts patients' life goal characteristics and processes, and life goal disturbance is related to poorer psychological outcomes.
conclusionsThe impact of the cancer experience on life goals is an important and emerging area of research that would benefit from conceptual and theoretical clarity and measurement consistency.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.