Systematic evaluation of experiential qualitative study on chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in cancer patients

Abstract

Objective To integrate relevant qualitative studies and to evaluate the experience of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) systematically in cancer patients. Methods Relevant qualitative studies were retrieved from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Science Direct, PsycINFO and Chinese databases such as CNKI, Wanfang, VIP and SinoMed from when they were founded to July 31, 2018. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) 's qualitative study quality evaluation standards was used to evaluate the literature, and the converging integration method was used to integrate the results. Results Totally 6 studies were included, and they boiled down to 19 results, 8 types and 4 integration results. Integration result 1: CIPN was an indefinite symptom experience, which was complex and mainly reflected by unclear CIPN symptoms, lack of information support for patients and low reporting rates. Integration result 2: CIPN was misunderstood by patients as an unimportant risk which was mainly reflected as patients' low risk awareness of CIPN, lack of attention to CIPN from medical workers and thus low evaluation rates of CIPN. Integration result 3: CIPN affected patients' quality of life severely, as reflected by its effects on patients' daily life and emotional disturbance. Integration result 4: CIPN was a characteristic of cancer survivors as reflected by uncertainty of drug treatment in patients and their adaptation to the symptoms when the symptoms were mitigated or controlled. Conclusions The symptoms of CIPN is complex. Medical workers' evaluation capacity and patients' self-management shall be enhanced so as to mitigate CIPN symptoms and improve the overall quality of life of patients. Key words: Chemotherapy; Peripheral chemotherapy; Psychological experience; Qualitative study; Systematic evaluation