Supporting self management of people affected by cancer: a review of the evidence

Foster, Claire, Hopkinson, Jane, Hill, Heidi and Wright, David (2005) Supporting self management of people affected by cancer: a review of the evidence Southampton, UK. University of Southampton, Macmillan Research Unit 95pp.

Record type: Monograph (Project Report)

Abstract

Aims
The purpose of this literature review was to explore how to support self management by systematically reviewing empirical evidence of what people affected by cancer do to help themselves when living with cancer (from the point of diagnosis, through treatment and beyond).

Key findings
97 abstracts of papers were retrieved and checked and 37 studies reviewed. These studies do not represent a cohesive body of literature. None of the studies reviewed have directly addressed supporting self-management and related studies are of poor quality. Self management is poorly defined and lacks a theoretical framework. Few studies specifically explored what patients do to help themselves, what enables them to do so, and how this could be supported. There is a clear need for work to be developed in this area.

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