Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34762248›Full record

SynthesisJournal of cancer survivorship : research and practice2022

A systematic mixed studies review of fear of cancer recurrence in families and caregivers of adults diagnosed with cancer.

Allan 'Ben' Smith, Verena Shuwen Wu, Sylvie Lambert, Jani Lamarche, Sophie Lebel, Stuart Leske, Afaf Girgis

Registry-linked trialAbstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT07234656 (Patient-partnered Research), which is not on this map. Cited by 22 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
22citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
2.3field-weighted citation impact, top 9% 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.

NCT07234656 recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2025, after this paper: background citation

Patient-partnered Research: a Key to Investigating Fear of Cancer Recurrence in Patients With Surgically Treated Kidney Cancer (PP-RECURK)

TypeobservationalSponsorBrigitta Rasmussen VillumsenRan2025 to 2028Enrolled105ConditionsFear of Cancer Recurrence, Renal Cell Carcinoma (Kidney Cancer)ArmsPhase 1: Establishment of a patient-partner panel, Phase 2: Feasibility testing of FCR questions, mode of administration and timing for investigating Fear of Cancer Recurrence
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

22 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 42 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
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  4. Trial
  5. Article
  6. Trajectories of dyadic fear of cancer recurrence in breast cancer couples: a prospective observational study.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
    Observational
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  12. Review
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  18. Fear of cancer recurrence experienced by pediatric survivors of childhood cancer: a scoping review.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2024
    Article
  19. Article
  20. Review
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

7 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.

Allan 'Ben' SmithIngham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool Hospital, Locked Bag 7103, Liverpool, BC NSW, 1871, Australia. ben.smith@unsw.edu.au.
Verena Shuwen WuIngham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool Hospital, Locked Bag 7103, Liverpool, BC NSW, 1871, Australia.
Sylvie LambertIngram School of Nursing, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
Jani LamarcheSchool of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Sophie LebelSchool of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
Stuart LeskeIngham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool Hospital, Locked Bag 7103, Liverpool, BC NSW, 1871, Australia.
Afaf GirgisIngham Institute for Applied Medical Research, Liverpool Hospital, Locked Bag 7103, Liverpool, BC NSW, 1871, Australia.
Ingham Institute · AULiverpool Hospital · AUUniversity of Ottawa · CAMcGill University · CA

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeFear of cancer recurrence (FCR) may be equally prevalent, persistent and burdensome in cancer caregivers as in survivors. This systematic review evaluated FCR prevalence, severity, correlates, course, impact and interventions in cancer caregivers.

methodsElectronic databases were searched from 1997 to May 2021. Two reviewers identified eligible peer-reviewed qualitative or quantitative studies on FCR in adult caregivers or family members of adult cancer survivors. The risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tools for randomised and non-randomised studies and the Mixed-Methods Appraisal Tool. A narrative synthesis and thematic synthesis occurred on quantitative and qualitative studies, respectively.

resultsOf 2418 papers identified, 70 reports (59 peer-reviewed articles, 11 postgraduate theses) from 63 studies were included. Approximately 50% of caregivers experienced FCR. Younger caregivers and those caring for survivors with worse FCR or overall health reported higher FCR. Most studies found caregivers' FCR levels were equal to or greater than survivors'. Caregivers' FCR was persistently elevated but peaked approaching survivor follow-up appointments. Caregivers' FCR was associated with poorer quality of life in caregivers and survivors. Three studies found couple-based FCR interventions were acceptable, but had limited efficacy.

conclusionsFCR in caregivers is prevalent, persistent and burdensome. Younger caregivers of survivors with worse overall health or FCR are at the greatest risk. Further research on identifying and treating caregivers' FCR is required. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Caregiver and survivor FCR are similarly impactful and appear interrelated. Addressing FCR may improve outcomes for both cancer caregivers and survivors.

Indexed as

CaregiversQuality of LifeAdultAnxietyFearHumansNeoplasm Recurrence, LocalCancerCaregiversFear of cancer recurrenceOncologySurvivorshipSystematic review

Identifiers

PMID34762248
OpenAlexW3212205809

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

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.