Interventions to Improve Quality of Life, Well-Being, and Care in Latino Cancer Survivors: A Systematic Literature Review

Problem Identification: Hispanic/Latino cancer survivors are at risk for increased psychosocial burden, in part, because of lower survival rates and lower quality of life (QOL) when compared with other populations. Despite this, very few interventional studies have been conducted in this population. This review synthesizes research on supportive care interventions to improve QOL, well-being, and cancer care in Hispanic/Latino cancer survivors.

Literature Search: Data sources included MEDLINE®, CINAHL®, and PsycINFO®. The PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guideline was employed.

Data Evaluation: This review includes studies conducted with cancer survivors from diagnosis to survivorship and addresses any type of intervention for Hispanic/Latino survivors of all cancer types and sites. Studies were written in English and had a sample of at least 25% Hispanics/Latinos. Key study attributes were extracted and tabled.

Synthesis: Of the 15 studies reviewed, types of interventions included were psychosocial (n = 6), educational (n = 4), exercise/diet (n = 4), and navigational (n = 1). Most studies were pilot and feasibility studies, and nine were randomized, controlled trials (RCTs).