Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37891568›Full record

SynthesisBMC palliative care2023

Psychosocial functioning in individuals with advanced oesophago-gastric cancer: a mixed methods systematic review.

Cara Ghiglieri, Martin Dempster, Sam Wright, Lisa Graham-Wisener

Open access · goldAbstract readSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in BMC palliative care, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
2.3field-weighted citation impact, top 10% 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

3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 4 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Reproductive Donors' Needs and Preferences: A Mixed-methods Systematic Review.International journal of community based nursing and midwifery · 2025
    Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. 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

4 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.

Cara GhiglieriCentre for Improving Health-Related Quality of Life, School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT7 1NN, Northern Ireland. cduggan07@qub.ac.uk.
Martin DempsterCentre for Improving Health-Related Quality of Life, School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT7 1NN, Northern Ireland.
Sam WrightCentre for Improving Health-Related Quality of Life, School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT7 1NN, Northern Ireland.
Lisa Graham-WisenerCentre for Improving Health-Related Quality of Life, School of Psychology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT7 1NN, Northern Ireland.
Queen's University Belfast · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundOesophago-gastric cancer is an aggressive disease with a high rate of recurrence and mortality across the disease trajectory. Reduced psychosocial functioning has been evidenced amongst those with advanced disease, however little is known about the contributing factors. Determining these factors is an important clinical consideration to inform assessment and intervention. This review aimed to synthesise the available evidence on the psychosocial functioning of individuals with advanced oesophago-gastric cancer and their carers.

methodsA JBI mixed-methods systematic review. Four bibliographic databases, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and CINAHL, were searched. Quantitative and qualitative studies were screened for inclusion and critically appraised for methodological quality. Both types of data were extracted using JBI tools for mixed-methods systematic reviews. A convergent segregated approach to synthesis and integration was used. The findings of the synthesis have been configured according to JBI methodology.

resultsA total of 12 studies were included in this review, including 6 quantitative studies and 6 qualitative studies. The quantitative results provide preliminary indication of several physical, biological, psychological and macro-level contextual factors associated with psychosocial functioning in this clinical population. The qualitative findings shed light on a range of physical, psychosocial, and existential challenges faced by advanced oesophago-gastric cancer patients. These multiple and often persistent challenges appear to cause considerable distress; however, patients describe the importance of maintaining a sense of normality and control over their illness and its effects. Patients value continuity and structure, however many report shortcomings when accessing care. No findings reporting the experiences from the perspective of carers were found, therefore all findings represent the perspective of the patient.

conclusionsFurther high-quality research is needed to understand how best to support and manage the palliative care needs of individuals living with advanced oesophago-gastric cancer. Implications for practice are discussed, suggesting that psychosocial interventions, complex symptom management and continuity of care could improve the psychosocial functioning of individuals in this setting. PRE-REGISTRATION: The systematic review was pre-registered at the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; CRD42020181273) and the protocol can be viewed on the OSF ( http://osf.io/exuzf ).

Indexed as

Hospice and Palliative Care NursingStomach NeoplasmsHumansPalliative CarePsychosocial FunctioningGastric CancerHealth-Related Quality of LifeOesophageal CancerOesophago-Gastric CancerPalliative CarePsychosocial functioning

Identifiers

PMID37891568
PMCPMC10612179
OpenAlexW4387996981

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
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.