title: Do cancer helplines deliver benefits to people affected by cancer? A systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the: (1) proportion of studies that describe characteristics of helpline service delivery, compared to the proportion that report trials testing efficacy or effectiveness of helplines in changing user outcomes; (2) proportion of efficacy or effectiveness studies that meet EPOC criteria for methodological rigor; and (3) potential benefits of cancer helplines for people affected by cancer based on findings from rigorous efficacy or effectiveness trials.
  
  
  METHODS
  Electronic databases (Medline, PsycINFO, EMBASE and CINAHL) were searched to identify English-language studies describing original research published from 1991 to 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-eight publications met the review inclusion criteria. From these studies, data on: the characteristics of cancer helpline users; call content; and user satisfaction, were extracted. The potential for helplines to improve the psychosocial outcomes of callers was examined for the three intervention trials.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a lack of robust evidence regarding the level and types of benefits that cancer helplines may deliver to callers affected by cancer. Given increased emphasis on delivering best-practise supportive care, building the evidence base in this field may assist cancer helplines to increase their service uptake, reach, and benefit to callers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a need for more rigorous intervention-focussed studies in this field across a broader range of cancer populations. Future studies should focus on relevant patient-centred outcomes, such as improved knowledge and greater involvement in decision-making, while incorporating process measures to account for intervention fidelity and clinical performance.
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Australia.
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Clinton-McHarg
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Australia. Electronic address: chris.paul@newcastle.edu.au.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Australia.
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boyes
authors.affiliation: Priority Research Centre for Health Behaviour, University of Newcastle and Hunter Medical Research Institute, Newcastle, Australia.
authors.forename: Shiho
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.affiliation: Cancer Council NSW, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vallentine
authors.affiliation: Cancer Council NSW, Sydney, Australia.
authors.forename: Lorna
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: O'Brien
mesh_terms: D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D015277:Hotlines; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D010358:Patient Participation; D017060:Patient Satisfaction
keywords: Cancer; Counselling; Helpline; Information service; Patient education; Psychosocial support systems; Systematic review