THE EFFECTS OF PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL INTERVENTIONS ON SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY AMONG PROSTATE CANCER PATIENTS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META-ANALYSIS

Abstract

Background: Symptoms of depression and anxiety are commonly expressed by prostate cancer patients during and after treatment. Psychoeducational interventions have been shown to be effective at developing coping abilities in patients in the clinical setting which may promote a healthier psychological state of mind. Objective: This review aims to examine the effects of psychoeducational interventions on symptoms of depression and anxiety among prostate cancer patients. Search Methods: A search for trials was conducted using electronic databases that included PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, CINAHL (Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature), and PsycINFO with the last search update on the 14th of January 2019. Selection Criteria: Randomised controlled trials of psychoeducational interventions for prostate cancer patients were selected. Results: Meta-analysis results for symptoms of depression was conducted for two groups of studies as two studies only provided mean difference versus the rest providing mean. Results revealed significantly lower symptoms of depression in one group (Z = 2.21, p = 0.03) while insignificant differences in symptoms of depression in the other group (Z = 0.97, p = 0.33). Qualitative comparison of the two groups was conducted to highlight key differences between the studies; the group with significant difference focused on key needs of the patient and included spousal support. Meta-analysis for symptoms of anxiety revealed no significant difference in symptoms of anxiety (Z = 1.08, p = 0.28). While broad-based psychoeducational interventions are more common, the results of this study suggest benefits in designing psychoeducational support around the needs of the patient and encouraging spousal support and participation during treatment as considerations in clinical practice and future research. Future research should also focus on improving the quality of the study as well as increase efforts in achieving a global and multicultural perspective on psychoeducational interventions.