A systematic review of quantitative studies reporting selected patient experienced outcomes, with a specific focus on gender differences in people with colorectal cancer.
BACKGROUND
Men with colorectal cancer have a higher mortality rate than their female counterparts. Despite this, there is a limited understanding of the impact gender has on the experience of colorectal cancer.


OBJECTIVE
This paper reports a systematic review of quantitative studies exploring patients' experience of colorectal cancer with a focus on gender differences in how they experience colorectal cancer and cope with the illness.


METHODS
Relevant literature was identified through a computer search. A narrative synthesis of studies which examined the experience of colorectal cancer in adults before, during and/or after their cancer treatment was carried out.


RESULTS
Twenty-three studies met the inclusion criteria. Reviewed studies quantified the experience of colorectal cancer through the assessment of coping strategies, adjustment to illness, sense of coherence, demands of illness, distress, information need, support need and decision-making preference. There was some evidence of gender differences in some aspects of the experience of colorectal cancer but this was equivocal. All the reviewed papers had methodological weaknesses.


CONCLUSIONS
No definite conclusion could be drawn on the effect of gender on the colorectal cancer experience due to the small number of studies examining comparable variables and the variety of outcome measures used. More methodologically sound research including an inception cohort of individuals assessed prospectively using accepted outcome measures is needed.
McCaughan
Eilis
E
Institute of Nursing Research and School of Nursing, University of Ulster, Cromore Road, Coleraine, Northern Ireland, UK. em.mccaughan@ulster.ac.uk
Prue
Gillian
G
Parahoo
Kader
K
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D057240:Patient Preference; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012944:Social Support