Evidence map›Paper›PMID 27278271›Full record

ArticleSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2016

Qualitative assessment of information and decision support needs for managing menopausal symptoms after breast cancer.

Lynda G Balneaves, Dimitra Panagiotoglou, Alison S A Brazier, Leah K Lambert, Antony Porcino, Margaret Forbes, Cheri Van Patten, Tracy L O Truant, Dugald Seely, Dawn Stacey

Open access · hybridAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2016. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
0.3field-weighted citation impact, top 34% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 14 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. A mixed studies systematic review of the unmet treatment, support, and information needs of cancer survivors in managing menopause symptoms.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
    Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Article
  4. Beyond breast cancer: mapping unmet needs and advancing an evidence-based framework of survivorship care.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
    Review
  5. Article
  6. Review
  7. Article
  8. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors at 6 institutions in 1 country.

Lynda G BalneavesCentre for Integrative Medicine, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, 144 College St., Room 737, Toronto, ON, M5S 3M2, Canada. lynda.balneaves@utoronto.ca.
Dimitra PanagiotoglouSchool of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Alison S A BrazierSchool of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Leah K LambertSchool of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Antony PorcinoFaculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Margaret ForbesJuravinski Cancer Centre, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
Cheri Van PattenBritish Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Tracy L O TruantSchool of Nursing, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Dugald SeelyOttawa Integrative Cancer Centre, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Dawn StaceySchool of Nursing, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
University of British Columbia · CABC Cancer Agency · CAJuravinski Cancer Centre · CAOttawa Regional Cancer Foundation · CAUniversity of Alberta · CAUniversity of Ottawa · CA

Funding

CIHR
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeFor breast cancer (BrCa) survivors, premature menopause can result from conventional cancer treatment. Due to limited treatment options, survivors often turn to complementary therapies (CTs), but struggle to make informed decisions. In this study, we identified BrCa survivors' CT and general information and decision-making needs related to menopausal symptoms.

methodsThe needs assessment was informed by interpretive descriptive methodology. Focus groups with survivors (n = 22) and interviews with conventional (n = 12) and CT (n = 5) healthcare professionals (HCPs) were conducted at two Canadian urban cancer centers. Thematic, inductive analysis was conducted on the data.

resultsMenopausal symptoms have significant negative impact on BrCa survivors. Close to 70 % of the sample were currently using CTs, including mind-body therapies (45.5 %), natural health products (NHPs) and dietary therapies (31.8 %), and lifestyle interventions (36.4 %). However, BrCa survivors reported inadequate access to information on the safety and efficacy of CT options. Survivors also struggled in their efforts to discuss CT with HCPs, who had limited time and information to support women in their CT decisions. Concise and credible information about CTs was required by BrCa survivors to support them in making informed and safe decisions about using CTs for menopausal symptom management.

conclusionsHigh quality research is needed on the efficacy and safety of CTs in managing menopausal symptoms following BrCa treatment. Decision support strategies, such as patient decision aids (DAs), may help synthesize and translate evidence on CTs and promote shared decision-making between BrCa survivors and HCPs about the role of CTs in coping with menopause following cancer treatment.

Indexed as

AdultBreast NeoplasmsComplementary TherapiesDecision MakingEvaluation Studies as TopicFemaleFocus GroupsHumansMenopauseMiddle AgedBreast cancerComplementary therapyDecision supportInformation needsMenopause

Identifiers

PMID27278271
PMCPMC5031723
OpenAlexW2415219494

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.