Quality of life of Brazilian and Spanish cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: an integrative literature review

Authors

  • Namie Okino Sawada Universidade de São Paulo; Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto
  • Adriana Cristina Nicolussi Universidade de São Paulo; Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto
  • Juliana Maria de Paula Universidade de São Paulo; Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto
  • Maria Paz Garcia-Caro Universidade de Granada; Departamento de Enfermagem
  • Celia Marti-Garcia Universidade de Granada; Departamento de Enfermagem
  • Francisco Cruz-Quintana Universidade de Granada; Departamento de Enfermagem

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/1518-8345.0564.2688

Abstract

Objective: characterize the scientific production of Brazil and Spain in regard to methodological aspects and aspects of health-related quality of life experienced by cancer patients receiving chemotherapy in both countries. Method: integrative literature review was conducted using the following databases: CINAHL, MEDLINE, SCOPUS and CUIDEN and the electronic libraries PubMed and SciELO, conducted in September 2013. Results: a total of 28 papers met the inclusion criteria. The synthesis of knowledge was presented in three categories of analysis: assessment of quality of life in different types of cancer; sociodemographic factors that influenced quality of life; and type of cancer and interventions that improve quality of life. Chemotherapy affects health-related quality of life and the most important factors were: age, sex, chemotherapy protocol, type of surgery, stage of the disease, educational level, and emotional intelligence. Complementary therapies such as acupuncture, guided visualization, prayers and exercise were positive and reduced side effects. Conclusion: the results showed a poor level of evidence, since 86% of the studies were cross-sectional descriptive studies; the instrument most frequently used to measure health-related quality of life was EORTC QLQ C-30 and more studies were conducted in Brazil than in Spain.

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Published

2016-01-01

Issue

Vol. 24 (2016)

Section

Review Articles

License

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Including names of authors whose contribution does not fit into the above criteria cannot be justified. Those names can be included in the Acknowledgements section.
 Authors are fully responsible for the concepts disseminated in their manuscripts, which do not necessarily reflect the editors’ and editorial board’s opinion.

 

How to Cite

Quality of life of Brazilian and Spanish cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy: an integrative literature review . (2016). Revista Latino-Americana De Enfermagem, 24, e2688-. https://doi.org/10.1590/1518-8345.0564.2688