Elene Janberidze1, Marianne Jensen Hjermstad2, Dagny Faksvåg Haugen3, Katrin Ruth Sigurdardottir4, Erik Torbjørn Løhre5, Hanne Cathrine Lie6, Jon Håvard Loge7, Stein Kaasa5, Anne Kari Knudsen5. 1. European Palliative Care Research Centre (PRC), Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway; Department of Oncology, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway. Electronic address: elene.janberidze@ntnu.no. 2. European Palliative Care Research Centre (PRC), Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway; Regional Centre for Excellence in Palliative Care, South Eastern Norway, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. 3. European Palliative Care Research Centre (PRC), Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway; Regional Centre of Excellence for Palliative Care, Western Norway, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway. 4. European Palliative Care Research Centre (PRC), Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway; Regional Centre of Excellence for Palliative Care, Western Norway, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway; Sunniva Centre for Palliative Care, Haraldsplass Deaconess Hospital, Bergen, Norway. 5. European Palliative Care Research Centre (PRC), Department of Cancer Research and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Trondheim, Norway; Department of Oncology, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway. 6. Department of Behavioural Sciences in Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway. 7. Department of Behavioural Sciences in Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; National Resource Centre for Late Effects after Cancer Treatment, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Abstract
CONTEXT: Prevalence rates of depression in patients with advanced cancer vary considerably. This may be because of heterogeneous samples and use of different assessment methods. Adequate sample descriptions and consistent use of measures are needed to be able to generalize research findings and apply them to clinical practice. OBJECTIVES: Our objective was twofold: First, to investigate which clinically important variables were used to describe the samples in studies of depression in patients with advanced cancer; and second, to examine the methods used for assessing and classifying depression in these studies. METHODS: PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase, and CINAHL were searched combining search term groups representing "depression," "palliative care," and "advanced cancer" covering 2007-2011. Titles and abstracts were screened, and relevant full-text articles were evaluated independently by two authors. Information on 32 predefined variables on cancer disease, treatment, sociodemographics, depression-related factors, and assessment methods was extracted from the articles. RESULTS: After removing duplicates, 916 citations were screened of which 59 articles were retained. Age, gender, and stage of the cancer disease were the most frequently reported variables. Depression-related variables were rarely reported, for example, antidepressant use (17%) and previous depressive episodes (12%). Only 25% of the studies assessed and classified depression according to a validated diagnostic system. CONCLUSION: Current practice for describing sample characteristics and assessing depression varies greatly between studies. A more standardized practice is recommended to enhance the generalizability and utility of findings. Stakeholders are encouraged to work toward a common standard for sample descriptions.
CONTEXT: Prevalence rates of depression in patients with advanced cancer vary considerably. This may be because of heterogeneous samples and use of different assessment methods. Adequate sample descriptions and consistent use of measures are needed to be able to generalize research findings and apply them to clinical practice. OBJECTIVES: Our objective was twofold: First, to investigate which clinically important variables were used to describe the samples in studies of depression in patients with advanced cancer; and second, to examine the methods used for assessing and classifying depression in these studies. METHODS: PubMed, PsycINFO, Embase, and CINAHL were searched combining search term groups representing "depression," "palliative care," and "advanced cancer" covering 2007-2011. Titles and abstracts were screened, and relevant full-text articles were evaluated independently by two authors. Information on 32 predefined variables on cancer disease, treatment, sociodemographics, depression-related factors, and assessment methods was extracted from the articles. RESULTS: After removing duplicates, 916 citations were screened of which 59 articles were retained. Age, gender, and stage of the cancer disease were the most frequently reported variables. Depression-related variables were rarely reported, for example, antidepressant use (17%) and previous depressive episodes (12%). Only 25% of the studies assessed and classified depression according to a validated diagnostic system. CONCLUSION: Current practice for describing sample characteristics and assessing depression varies greatly between studies. A more standardized practice is recommended to enhance the generalizability and utility of findings. Stakeholders are encouraged to work toward a common standard for sample descriptions.
Authors: Ragnhild Habberstad; Trude Camilla Salvesen Frøseth; Nina Aass; Tatiana Abramova; Theo Baas; Siri Tessem Mørkeset; Augusto Caraceni; Barry Laird; Jason W Boland; Romina Rossi; Elena Garcia-Alonso; Hanne Stensheim; Jon Håvard Loge; Marianne Jensen Hjermstad; Ellen Bjerkeset; Asta Bye; Jo-Åsmund Lund; Tora Skeidsvoll Solheim; Ola Magne Vagnildhaug; Cinzia Brunelli; Jan Kristian Damås; Tom Eirik Mollnes; Stein Kaasa; Pål Klepstad Journal: BMC Palliat Care Date: 2018-09-28 Impact factor: 3.234