Psychosocial wellbeing in people with melanoma in-situ: a systematic review

Abstract

This systematic review aims to evaluate the prevalence of reductions in psychosocial wellbeing among patient with melanoma in situ (MIS). It also aims to identify factors associated with psychosocial reactions, the instruments used to measure psychosocial outcomes, and to evaluate existing intervention programs for supporting this population. Search strategies for different databases including PubMed, Embase, Scopus, PsycINFO, and Web of Science were designed and implemented. A total of 2378 records were identified, resulting in 22 included papers. Various aspects of psychosocial wellbeing were evaluated in the reviewed articles, with fear of cancer recurrence being the most frequently investigated among patients diagnosed with melanoma. Only 2 of the 22 studies reported data for MIS patients, indicating no significant difference in psychosocial welling between patients with MIS and those at higher stages. Regarding interventional support, there is a notable lack of interventions specifically addressing the psychosocial needs of MIS patients. Our findings highlight a significant research gap on psychosocial wellbeing following a MIS diagnosis and suggest a shortage of targeted psychosocial interventions for this growing patient population. The observed variability in measuring psychosocial aspects presents challenges in identifying the essential components of effective interventions. Future research should prioritize employing mixed methodologies and addressing the unique needs of MIS patients.