ArticlePsycho-oncology2025
"The Idea of Being Without It is Frightening". Uncertainty and Psychological Dependency for Patients Using Immuno-, Biological, or Precision Therapies: A Qualitative Study.
Article in Psycho-oncology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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.
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.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
12 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundIBP therapies (immunotherapies, biologics and precision therapies) have had a significant impact on cancer survival. They differ from conventional cancer treatments in that they may be used long term and have less predictable adverse effects. We aimed to explore the psychological impact of IBP therapies from the perspectives of those living with advanced cancer.
methodsSemi-structured interviews with 20 women and 11 men with advanced cancer - (lung, colorectal, ovary, (female) breast, renal and malignant melanoma) - about their experiences of IBP therapies. Data were analysed thematically.
resultsWe elicited two overarching themes from the data: (1) the psychological impact of a stage IV diagnosis and living with advanced cancer, and (2) uncertainty and dependency associated with IBP therapies. Although some were relieved to have a diagnosis, others responded with shock and disbelief. Day to day, cancer was foremost in the minds of many, and the remainder chose to push these thoughts aside and focus on making the most of life. Living with cancer led to a shift in their sense of self. Uncertainty and dependency throughout the care pathway were centred around treatment effectiveness, heightened by the belief that the therapy was keeping them alive. Participants were uncertain and anxious about any interruption of, or changes to, their current treatment regimen, stopping their current treatment and next steps.
conclusionInterventions are needed to support the psychological needs of people using IBP therapies. These should go beyond monitoring and managing IBP treatment-related adverse effects and address uncertainty and psychological dependency.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
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.