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Meta-Analysis
. 2022 Apr:62:36-51.
doi: 10.1016/j.breast.2022.01.005. Epub 2022 Jan 12.

Psychoeducation for breast cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Hari Setyowibowo  1 , Whisnu Yudiana  2 , Joke A M Hunfeld  3 , Aulia Iskandarsyah  4 , Jan Passchier  5 , Homra Arzomand  5 , Sawitri S Sadarjoen  4 , Ralph de Vries  6 , Marit Sijbrandij  7
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Psychoeducation for breast cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Hari Setyowibowo et al. Breast. 2022 Apr.

Abstract

Background: Psychoeducation has emerged as an intervention for women with breast cancer (BC). This meta-analysis evaluated the effectiveness of psychoeducation on adherence to diagnostic procedures and medical treatment, anxiety, depression, quality of life (QoL), and BC knowledge among patients with BC symptoms or diagnosis and BC survivors.

Methods: A systematic literature search (in PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO and Cochrane) for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the effects of psychoeducation to control among patients with BC symptoms or diagnosis and BC survivors. Effects were expressed as relative risks (RRs) and standardized mean differences (SMDs) with their 95% confidence intervals.

Results: Twenty-seven RCTs (7742 participants; 3880 psychoeducation and 3862 controls) were included. Compared with controls, psychoeducation had no significant effect on adherence to diagnostic procedures and medical treatment (RR 1.553; 95% CI 0.733 to 3.290, p = .16), but it significantly decreased anxiety (SMD -0.710, 95% CI -1.395 to -0.027, p = .04) and improved QoL with (SMD 0.509; 95% CI 0.096 to 0.923, p < .01). No effects were found for psychoeducation on depression (SMD -0.243, 95% CI -0.580 to 0.091, p = .14), or BC knowledge (SMD 0.718, 95% CI -0.800 to 2.236, p = .23).

Conclusion: We demonstrated that psychoeducation did not improve adherence to diagnostic procedures and treatment, depression and BC knowledge but was valuable for reducing anxiety and improving QoL. Future studies may explore the effectiveness of psychoeducation in promoting adherence across various types of cancer.

Keywords: Breast cancer; Meta-analysis; Psycho-oncology; Psychoeducation; Quality of life; Randomised controlled trials; Systematic review.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts to declare.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Study selection.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Standardized effect sizes between psychoeducation for BC compared to control on adherence.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Standardized effect sizes between psychoeducation for BC compared to control on mental health outcomes.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Standardized effect sizes between psychoeducation for BC compared to control on BC Knowledge.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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