Howell, D., Harth, T., Brown, J., Bennett, C., & Boyko, S. (2017). Self-management education interventions for patients with cancer: A systematic review. Supportive Care in Cancer, 25, 1323–1355.

STUDY PURPOSE: To identify core components of self-management education interventions and assess effectiveness

TYPE OF STUDY: Systematic review

DATABASES USED: Ovid, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane collaboration, CINAHL, PsycINFO

INCLUSION CRITERIA: Adults, use of any type of teaching strategy, addressed any single core element of self-management interventions as defined by the authors, group based or individual structure

EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Psychotherapy or support groups, use of only information such as leaflets or videos, focus on family members, focus on decision making by patients, gray literature, interventions related to diet and exercise

TOTAL REFERENCES RETRIEVED: 4,579

EVALUATION METHOD AND COMMENTS ON LITERATURE USED: Cochrane risk of bias tool to evaluate study quality. All were at high risk of bias related to lack of blinding

FINAL NUMBER STUDIES INCLUDED: 43 

TOTAL PATIENTS INCLUDED IN REVIEW: 6,795

SAMPLE RANGE ACROSS STUDIES: 22 to 483

PHASE OF CARE: Multiple phases of care

Authors attempted to correlate core elements of interventions with outcomes. Overall, there were very few studies that had any common combinations of core elements, so this analysis could not be done. Overall, studies suggested that psychoeducational interventions may be beneficial for relieving symptoms of anxiety and depression. The content, elements, structure duration and frequency of interventions across studies were varied. Many interventions labeled as self-management education did not include components related to self management.

Psychoeducational interventions appear to be beneficial for symptoms of anxiety and depression. It is not possible to determine the specific components of these types of interventions that are most helpful.

• Mostly low quality/high risk of bias studies
• High heterogeneity
• Wide variation of the components, etc., of these types of interventions

Psychoeducational interventions of various types can be beneficial in reducing patients’ anxiety and depressive symptoms.