Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32162194›Full record

SynthesisJournal of cancer survivorship : research and practice2020

Quality of life in "chronic" cancer survivors: a meta-analysis.

Jenny Firkins, Lissi Hansen, Martha Driessnack, Nathan Dieckmann

Abstract readMeta-AnalysisReview
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 172 papers, 11 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
172citing papers in PubMed, 11 pooled it
8.8field-weighted citation impact, top 2% 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

172 citing papers in PubMed, 11 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 279 citations in OpenAlex.

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  4. Association of spirituality and quality of life in cancer survivors: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025
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  11. The influence of socio-demographics and clinical characteristics on coping strategies in cancer patients: a systematic review.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2022
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  20. Cancer survivorship in malignant melanoma.Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft = Journal of the German Society of Dermatology : JDDG · 2026
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112 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

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

4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Jenny FirkinsOregon Health & Science University School of Nursing, 3455 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, OR, 97239, USA. firkinsj@ohsu.edu.ORCID 0000-0002-7803-8776
Lissi HansenOregon Health & Science University School of Nursing, 3455 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, OR, 97239, USA.
Martha DriessnackOregon Health & Science University School of Nursing, 3455 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, OR, 97239, USA.
Nathan DieckmannOregon Health & Science University School of Nursing, 3455 SW US Veterans Hospital Road, Portland, OR, 97239, USA.
Oregon Health & Science University · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeCancer survivors are now living longer giving rise to a new concept-chronic cancer as survivors continue to face long-term consequences of cancer and its treatment. For these survivors, QOL becomes a vital consideration in understanding their survivorship and the long-term impact of cancer and its treatment. The primary aim of this review is to describe QOL in cancer survivors two or more years from diagnosis.

methodsA meta-analysis was completed of relevant studies assessing QOL in long-term cancer survivorship using PubMed, CINHAL, and PsycINFO. A total of 64 articles met inclusion criteria and included in the analysis. Standardized effect sizes and errors were calculated using previously published standard QOL pass rates to compare QOL across measurement tools and calculate cumulative effect sizes (CES). Fixed-effect or random-effects models were used based on the presence of significant heterogeneity of ≤ 0.10.

resultsPhysical health (CES = - 0.894; CI, - 1.472, - 0.316), role-physical health (CES = - 2.039; CI, - 2.643, - 1.435), and mental health (CES = - 0.870; CI, - 1.447, - 0.292) had large, negative cumulative effect sizes signifying worse QOL compared with acceptable QOL rates. Tested moderators, cancer type, average age, country of origin, time since diagnosis, or decade of diagnosis, were not significant to explain heterogeneity between included studies.

conclusionQOL is significantly impacted 2 to 26 years after cancer diagnosis. More research is needed to determine possible moderators of QOL in long-term cancer survivors. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: QOL continues to be significantly impacted in long-term cancer survivorship. More research is needed to understand the impact of these findings on care needs for survivors with chronic cancer.

Indexed as

AgedCancer SurvivorsFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedNeoplasmsQuality of LifeCancerChronic cancerMeta-analysisQuality of lifeSurvivorship

Identifiers

PMID32162194
OpenAlexW3011253478

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
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.