MetaTOC stay on top of your field, easily

Efficacy of psychosocial and physical activity‐based interventions to improve body image among women treated for breast cancer: A systematic review

, , ,

Psycho-Oncology

Published online on

Abstract

--- - |2+ Abstract Objective Body image concerns warrant attention among women who have undergone treatment for breast cancer, due to their significant consequences for psychological and physical health, and interpersonal relationships. This paper systematically reviews the effectiveness of interventions on body image outcomes among this group, in order to inform health care provision and strategic directions for research. Methods Fourteen electronic databases were searched for articles published between 1992 and 2017 that evaluated interventions with women who had undergone treatment for breast cancer in controlled trials with at least one body image measure. Data were extracted and studies were assessed for their methodological quality using the Cochrane Collaboration tool for assessing risk of bias. Results Twenty‐one articles evaluating 26 interventions met inclusion criteria. Nine interventions significantly improved body image at either post‐test or follow‐up (ds = 0.15‐1.43), with none reporting sustained effects across all time points. Effective interventions comprised psychotherapy, psychoeducation, or physical activity, were delivered at different treatment stages and mostly adopted a multisession, face‐to‐face, group format. However, only 4 interventions were evaluated within methodologically rigorous studies and are therefore recommended for use by health professionals aiming to improve the body image of women at different stages of treatment for breast cancer. Conclusions To advance the field, we recommend a less biomedical disease‐ and treatment‐focused approach to interventions, and instead a more biopsychosocial theoretical approach targeting broader modifiable psychosocial influences upon body image. Replication and randomised controlled trials of greater rigour are also required to improve the methodological quality of studies. - Psycho-Oncology, EarlyView.