Objective:
The primary objective of this review is to analyze and synthesize the best available evidence on the experiences and perceptions of psychological stress reported by pancreatic cancer patients at any time point from the pre-diagnosis, diagnosis, treatment, post-treatment and/or follow-up care.
Introduction:
A cancer diagnosis is known to be life-threatening, altering and limiting, and negatively affects an individual’s activities of daily living. Despite developments in treatment options for pancreatic cancer patients, it represents the highest mortality and morbidity among cancers. Stress is a subjective phenomenon that negatively impacts an individual’s psychological and emotional well-being, and interferes with the ability to cope with cancer symptoms and treatments. Identifying a patient’s experience of stress could facilitate educational, spiritual and social resources to address his or her emotional and psychological needs.
Inclusion criteria:
Qualitative studies that include individuals with pancreatic cancers, regardless of age, sex or ethnicity, will be considered for inclusion in this review.
Methods:
The databases to be searched include PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, BioMed Central and PsycINFO. The databases to be searched for gray literature include Biosis, OpenGrey, Open Access Theses and Dissertations, and World Catalogue. This systematic review will consider all published and unpublished studies with no date limitations. Selected studies will be assessed for methodological quality by two independent reviewers. Coding will be assigned to synthesize any differences in the experiences and perceptions of psychological stress at three time points. Where textual pooling is not possible, conclusions will be presented in narrative form.
Correspondence: Ann M. Mazzella Ebstein, mazzella@mskcc.org
The authors report no conflict of interest.
© 2019 by Lippincott williams & Wilkins, Inc.