Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38191752›Full record

ArticleJournal of cancer survivorship : research and practice2025

Professionally led support groups for people living with advanced or metastatic cancer: a systematic scoping review of effectiveness and factors critical to implementation success within real-world healthcare and community settings.

Zhicheng Li, Kitty-Jean Laginha, Frances Boyle, Michele Daly, Fiona Dinner, Pia Hirsch, Kim Hobbs, Laura Kirsten, Carolyn Mazariego, Ros McAuley and 6 more

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

Article in Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
13citing papers in PubMed
–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

13 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. The Architect of Trust: Dr Tom Ferguson's Legacy.Journal of participatory medicine · 2026
    Article
  3. Multidisciplinary management of advanced ovarian cancer in Spain: expert recommendations for achieving maximum survival and improving patient care.Clinical & translational oncology : official publication of the Federation of Spanish Oncology Societies and of the National Cancer Institute of Mexico · 2026
    Review
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  9. 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

16 authors.

Zhicheng LiThe Daffodil Centre, University of Sydney, a joint venture with Cancer Council NSW, Rm 111b, Edward Ford Building (A27), Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia.
Kitty-Jean LaginhaFaculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Frances BoyleFaculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Michele DalyCancer Institute NSW, Consumer Advisory Panel, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Fiona DinnerThursday Girls Group, Melbourne, Australia.
Pia HirschAdvanced Breast Cancer Group, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
Kim HobbsWestmead Centre for Gynaecological Cancers, Westmead, NSW, Australia.
Laura KirstenNepean Cancer Care Centre, Penrith, NSW, Australia.
Carolyn MazariegoFaculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Ros McAuley, Melbourne, Australia.
Mary O'BrienAdvanced Breast Cancer Group, Brisbane, Qld, Australia.
Amanda O'Reilly, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Natalie TaylorFaculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Lisa TobinBreast Cancer Network Australia, Camberwell, VIC, Australia.
Sophie LewisFaculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
Andrea L SmithThe Daffodil Centre, University of Sydney, a joint venture with Cancer Council NSW, Rm 111b, Edward Ford Building (A27), Camperdown, NSW, 2006, Australia. andrea.smith@sydney.edu.au.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTo examine the effectiveness of professionally led support groups for people with advanced or metastatic cancer, and identify factors critical to implementation success within real-world settings.

methodsDatabases (MEDLINE; PsychINFO; CINAHL) and grey literature were searched for empirical publications and evaluations. Articles were screened for eligibility and data systematically extracted, charted and summarised using a modified scoping review methodology. Implementation factors were mapped using Proctor's implementation framework and the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research 2.0.

resultsA total of 1691 publications were identified; 19 were eligible for inclusion (8 randomised controlled trials, 7 qualitative studies, 2 cohort studies, 2 mixed methods studies). Most (n=18) studies focused on tumour-specific support groups. Evidence supported professionally led support groups in reducing mood disturbances (n=5), distress (i.e. traumatic stress, depression) (n=4) and pain (n=2). Other benefits included social connectedness (n=6), addressing existential distress (n=5), information and knowledge (n=6), empowerment and sense of control (n=2), relationships with families (n=2) and communication with health professionals (n=2). Thirteen studies identified factors predicting successful adoption, implementation or sustainment, including acceptability (n=12; 63%), feasibility (n=6; 32%) and appropriateness (n=1; 5%). Key determinants of successful implementation included group leaders' skills/experience, mode of operation, travelling distance, group composition and membership and resourcing.

conclusionsProfessionally led tumour-specific support groups demonstrate effectiveness in reducing mood disturbances, distress and pain among patients. Successful implementation hinges on factors such as leadership expertise, operational methods and resource allocation. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Professionally led support groups may fill an important gap in supportive care for people with advanced or metastatic cancer.

Indexed as

Cancer SurvivorsNeoplasmsSelf-Help GroupsHumansNeoplasm MetastasisAdvanced cancerMetastatic cancerMetastatic survivorshipPeer supportPsychosocial supportSupport groups

Identifiers

PMID38191752
PMCPMC12081543

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.