Evidence map›Paper›PMID 36269170›Full record

SynthesisThe oncologist2023

A Systematic Review of Patient Education Strategies for Oncology Patients in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Karryn Christiansen, Lori Buswell, Temidayo Fadelu

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in The oncologist, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 19 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
19citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
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

19 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Factors, including patient education, that impact cancer treatment adherence in low- and middle-income African countries: a scoping review.Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer · 2026
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  8. Bridging the Digital Divide Without Leaving Anyone Behind: Hybrid Models for Cancer Education.Journal of cancer education : the official journal of the American Association for Cancer Education · 2026
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  14. A Systematic Review on the Effective Teaching Strategies and Methods for Cancer Patient Education.Journal of cancer education : the official journal of the American Association for Cancer Education · 2025
    Review
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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

3 authors.

Karryn ChristiansenCenter for Global Health, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO, USA.
Lori BuswellDivision of Population Sciences, Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.ORCID 0000-0001-6604-7387
Temidayo FadeluDivision of Population Sciences, Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.ORCID 0000-0002-1323-4119

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionPatient education can facilitate early cancer diagnosis, enhance treatment adherence, and improve outcomes. While there is increasing cancer burden in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), there is little research to inform successful patient education in these regions. This systematic review summarizes the existing literature on oncology education and evaluation strategies in LMICs, identifies best practices, and highlights areas which require further investigation.

methodsThe review was conducted using PRISMA guidelines and an a priori protocol. Four databases (Ovid Medline, Cochrane Libraries, Embase, and Cabi) were searched in December 2021. Two independent reviewers evaluated studies for inclusion. Using a coded data extraction form, information was collected about the study site, intervention characteristics, and evaluation methods.

resultsOf the 2047 articles generated in the search, 77 met the inclusion criteria. Twenty-four countries were represented; only 6 studies (8%) were in low-income countries. The most common education methods included technology-based interventions (31, 40%) and visual pamphlets or posters (20, 26%). More than one education method was used in 57 (74%) studies. Nurses were the most frequent educators (25, 33%). An evaluation was included in 74 (96%) studies, though only 41 (55%) studies used a validated tool. Patient knowledge was the most common measured outcome in 35 (47%) studies.

conclusionsThere is limited empiric research on oncology patient education in LMICs. The available data show heterogeneity in education approaches and gaps in evaluation. Further research to determine successful patient education and evaluation strategies is urgently needed to improve treatment cancer outcomes in LMICs.

Indexed as

Developing CountriesNeoplasmsHumansPatient Education as Topiccancer educationeducation materialsLMICspatient education

Identifiers

PMID36269170
PMCPMC9847564

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.