The Effects of Expressive Writing Interventions for Patients With Cancer: A Meta-Analysis.
To evaluate the effects of expressive writing (EW) interventions in patients with cancer. .



Electronic databases searched included both international and Korean databases through January 2015. .



Of the 20 trials that met the eligibility criteria of this review, a meta-analysis was conducted of 14 articles involving 13 randomized and 1 nonrandomized trials with 1,718 patients with cancer. EW interventions were compared with a neutral writing intervention or usual care (no writing). A significant small effect was noted on relieving cancer symptoms; however, the effects on psychological and cognitive outcomes were not significant. When subgroup analysis by control condition was performed, a significant effect on health-related quality of life was found between the EW intervention group and the usual care group.  .



EW had significant small effects only on cancer symptoms. The findings suggest that the traditional EW intervention protocol may need to be intensified to confirm its effect on patients with cancer. .



Current evidence for EW as a nursing intervention for improving physical, psychological, and cognitive outcomes among patients with cancer is promising, but not conclusive.
Sahmyook University.
Pok-Ja
PJ
Oh
Inha University.
Soo Hyun
SH
Kim
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011613:Psychotherapy; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000628:therapy*; D014956:Writing
cancer; expressed emotion; meta-analysis; writing