The Effect of Psychoeducational Interventions on Cancer-Related Fatigue: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Studies

Abstract

Background: Cancer-related fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of cancer patients. Psychoeducation is often used in the management of cancer-related fatigue. Objective: The aim of this study was to synthesize the effects of psychoeducational interventions on cancer-related fatigue. Methods: This article is a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled studies. The 11 electronic databases were searched, and studies using psychoeducational interventions to manage cancer-related fatigue were included. Data synthesis was performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software version 3.0. The random-effects model was used to pool the effect size for intervention. The subgroup analysis was conducted to investigate the effect of the characteristics of psychoeducational interventions. This study was reported according to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Intervention version 6.3 and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 guidelines. Results: This analysis included 10 studies with a total of 1369 participants. Most of the included studies compared the psychoeducational intervention group with the passive control group. Our meta-analysis revealed that psychoeducational intervention has a positive medium effect on improving cancer-related fatigue with a low quality of evidence. Subgroup analyses indicated no difference between group and individual interventions, between face-to-face and digital interventions, or between <= 3 and >3 sessions. Conclusions: Psychoeducational interventions can improve cancer-related fatigue. Additional well-designed randomized controlled studies are needed to upgrade the quality of evidence for psychoeducational interventions on cancer-related fatigue.