A Qualitative Systematic Review of the Experiences and Needs of Patients With Gliomas

Problem Identification: With poor prognosis and debilitating symptoms, gliomas affect not only patients’ physical health, but also their psychological well-being. A systematic review was conducted to explore the experiences, needs, and coping mechanisms of adult patients with gliomas.

Literature Search: A literature search was performed in Cochrane Library, PubMed^®, Embase^®, MEDLINE^®, Scopus^®, PsycINFO^®, CINAHL^®, CNKI, and Wan Fang for studies published from January 1999 to December 2019.

Data Evaluation: The selected studies were assessed by two independent reviewers to determine methodologic quality. Meta-aggregation was used to synthesize the findings.

Synthesis: Three overarching themes were developed: (a) the impact of gliomas on daily life, (b) emotional changes, and (c) the recognized need to move on. Findings from each study were categorized into 12 subthemes.

Implications for Practice: The findings from this systematic review provide data related to the experiences of patients with gliomas, which can inform practice changes and interventions aimed at enhancing patients’ quality of life.