Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33039983›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2020

Non-pharmacological approaches to procedural anxiety reduction for patients undergoing radiotherapy for cancer: systematic review protocol.

Erin Forbes, Amanda L Baker, Ben Britton, Kerrie Clover, Eliza Skelton, Sharon Oultram, Christopher Oldmeadow, Kristen McCarter

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
0.5field-weighted citation impact, top 32% 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

6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 10 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Effect of music therapy and relaxation visualization intervention on mask anxiety in head and neck cancer patients undergoing radiotherapy-a randomized controlled trial.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2025
    Trial
  3. The effect of two different types of music played to cancer patients during chemotherapy on anxiety, nausea, and satisfaction levels.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2023
    Trial
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. 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

8 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.

Erin ForbesSchool of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle Faculty of Health and Medicine, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-0073-4621
Amanda L BakerSchool of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle Faculty of Health and Medicine, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.
Ben BrittonDepartment of Consultation Liaison Psychiatry, John Hunter Hospital, New Lambton, New South Wales, Australia.
Kerrie CloverSchool of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle Faculty of Health and Medicine, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-8310-7003
Eliza SkeltonSchool of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle Faculty of Health and Medicine, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia.
Sharon OultramDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Calvary Mater Newcastle, Waratah, New South Wales, Australia.
Christopher OldmeadowCREDITSS-Clinical Research Design, Information Technology and Statistical Support Unit, Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-6104-1322
Kristen McCarterSchool of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle Faculty of Health and Medicine, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia Kristen.McCarter@newcastle.edu.au.ORCID 0000-0002-2638-6381
University of Newcastle Australia · AUCalvary Mater Newcastle Hospital · AUHunter Medical Research Institute · AUJohn Hunter Hospital · AU

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionProcedural anxiety relates to an affective state of anxiety or fear in relation to a medical procedure. Various treatment-related factors may elicit anxiety among oncology patients, including fear of diagnostic imaging (such as MRI scans) and impending treatment and medical procedures (such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy). It is common in oncology settings to manage acute anxiety relating to medical procedures with anxiolytic medication. However, pharmacological approaches are not suitable for many patients. Despite this, non-pharmacological interventions are infrequently used. The aim of this systematic review is to determine whether non-pharmacological interventions delivered prior to, or during, radiotherapy are effective in reducing procedural anxiety. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Data sources will include the bibliographic databases CINAHL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled trials (CENTRAL) (from inception onward). Eligible studies will include adult patients with cancer undergoing radiotherapy treatment. Included studies will be those which employ a non-pharmacological intervention, delivered within existing radiotherapy appointments, with the aim of reducing procedural anxiety related to radiotherapy. All research designs with a control or other comparison group will be included. The primary outcome will be change in levels of self-reported procedural anxiety. Secondary outcomes will be changes in scores on physiological measures of anxiety and/or changes in treatment completion and/or changes in treatment duration and/or changes in psychological distress. Two investigators will independently complete title and abstract screening, full-text screening, data extraction and assessment of methodological quality. If appropriate, a meta-analyses will be performed. Any important amendments to this protocol will be updated in the PROSPERO registration and documented in the resulting review publication. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: No ethical issues are anticipated from this review. The findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publication and at conferences by presentation. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: CRD42019112941.

Indexed as

NeoplasmsPsychological DistressAdultAnxietyFearHumansSelf ReportSystematic Reviews as Topicadult radiotherapyanxiety disordersradiation oncology

Identifiers

PMID33039983
PMCPMC7549444
OpenAlexW3091794658

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.