Review: non-invasive interventions improve symptoms and psychological functioning in patients with lung cancer
Q Are non-invasive interventions delivered by healthcare professionals effective for improving symptoms, psychological functioning, and quality of life in patients with lung cancer?
METHODS
Data sources:
Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (Cochrane Library, Issue 4, 2003), Medline (1966–2003), EMBASE/Excerpta Medica (1974–2003), CINAHL (1982–2002), CancerLit (1975–2002), PsycINFO (1873–2003), bibliographies of relevant articles, and researchers in the field.
Study selection and assessment:
randomised controlled trials (RCTs) or controlled clinical trials (CCT) that evaluated non-invasive interventions (ie, any physical treatment that does not require catheterisation, skin puncture, intubation, incision, drainage, endoscopy, or pharmacological intervention) based on clinical judgment and knowledge, and performed by healthcare professionals to enhance patient wellbeing or quality of life in patients with lung cancer (patients with other thoracic cancers were included). Study quality was assessed using criteria that included method of randomisation, allocation concealment, blinding, patient follow up, and sample size calculation. …
