TY - BOOK
T1 - The effects of psychosocial interventions in cancer and heart disease: a review of systematic reviews
AU - Rodgers, M.
AU - Fayter, D.
AU - Richardson, G.
AU - Lewin, R.
AU - Sowden, A.J.
AU - Ritchie, G.
N1 - © 2005 Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, University of York. Available from the CRD web site.
PY - 2005/12
Y1 - 2005/12
N2 - OBJECTIVE:
To conduct a review of existing systematic reviews, in order to (i) examine the types of
psychosocial interventions that have been used with people suffering from heart disease or
cancer, (ii) evaluate the effects of such interventions on physical outcomes, psychological
outcomes or health care usage, and (iii) evaluate the methodological quality of the included
systematic reviews.
METHODS:
A wide range of databases was searched for relevant systematic reviews of the literature. This
process was supplemented by handsearching of 67 journals and contacting authors in the area.
To be considered a “systematic review,” identified texts had to meet two criteria defined by
CRD’s Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE), relating to the review question and
literature search. Those that evaluated the effects of any kind of psychosocial intervention(s) in
individuals with cancer or heart disease were included. Psychotropic medications, exercise
training alone and 'black-box' interventions such as cardiac rehabilitation or interventions that
included medical care such as secondary prevention through medication change were
excluded. The quality of included reviews was assessed using a checklist adapted from that
used for DARE. Two reviewers were involved in the review selection, extraction and quality
assessment processes, with any disagreements resolved by a third reviewer.
The included reviews were combined in a narrative synthesis. Results were grouped by
condition (heart disease and cancer) and, where possible, by type of intervention within each
condition. Where results could not easily be classified by type of intervention, they were
grouped according to outcome (psychological, physical, or other). Where possible, important
differences between reviews and their potential effects on findings were highlighted. Within
each section of the results, an overall summary of the methodological quality of the reviews is
given and, where possible, emphasis is placed upon the reviews of higher quality. Implications
for future primary research, as indicated in the included systematic reviews, have been
summarised. The findings from the collection of reviews formed the basis of recommendations
for the need, design and conduct of future systematic reviews in the area.
AB - OBJECTIVE:
To conduct a review of existing systematic reviews, in order to (i) examine the types of
psychosocial interventions that have been used with people suffering from heart disease or
cancer, (ii) evaluate the effects of such interventions on physical outcomes, psychological
outcomes or health care usage, and (iii) evaluate the methodological quality of the included
systematic reviews.
METHODS:
A wide range of databases was searched for relevant systematic reviews of the literature. This
process was supplemented by handsearching of 67 journals and contacting authors in the area.
To be considered a “systematic review,” identified texts had to meet two criteria defined by
CRD’s Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE), relating to the review question and
literature search. Those that evaluated the effects of any kind of psychosocial intervention(s) in
individuals with cancer or heart disease were included. Psychotropic medications, exercise
training alone and 'black-box' interventions such as cardiac rehabilitation or interventions that
included medical care such as secondary prevention through medication change were
excluded. The quality of included reviews was assessed using a checklist adapted from that
used for DARE. Two reviewers were involved in the review selection, extraction and quality
assessment processes, with any disagreements resolved by a third reviewer.
The included reviews were combined in a narrative synthesis. Results were grouped by
condition (heart disease and cancer) and, where possible, by type of intervention within each
condition. Where results could not easily be classified by type of intervention, they were
grouped according to outcome (psychological, physical, or other). Where possible, important
differences between reviews and their potential effects on findings were highlighted. Within
each section of the results, an overall summary of the methodological quality of the reviews is
given and, where possible, emphasis is placed upon the reviews of higher quality. Implications
for future primary research, as indicated in the included systematic reviews, have been
summarised. The findings from the collection of reviews formed the basis of recommendations
for the need, design and conduct of future systematic reviews in the area.
M3 - Commissioned report
SN - 1 900640 36 8
T3 - CRD Report
BT - The effects of psychosocial interventions in cancer and heart disease: a review of systematic reviews
PB - University of York
CY - York, UK
ER -