Korean J Adult Nurs.  2017 Aug;29(4):419-431. 10.7475/kjan.2017.29.4.419.

Understanding Quality of Life among Adult Patients with Terminal Cancer in South Korea: An Integrative Review

• Kim H
• Cho J

• KMID: 2406368
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7475/kjan.2017.29.4.419

Abstract

PURPOSE
Despite the importance of promoting quality of life (QOL) among patients with terminal cancer, a comprehensive understanding of QOL among this population is lacking in South Korea. Thus, the purpose of the integrative review was to identify patterns in studies about patient-reported QOL among Korean adult patients with a diagnosis of terminal cancer.
METHODS
The integrative review method described by Whittemore and Knaf was used in this stuy. Twenty-five articles were selected for analysis.
RESULTS
Most articles addressed factors that influenced QOL or validated an assessment instrument to measure QOL in patients with terminal cancer. Only one qualitative research article which described patients' experiences of living with terminal cancer. Six other articles examined the effects of interventions on patients' QOL but these did not provide detailed information about interventions. These articles seldom used robust designs and methods to test the interventions.
CONCLUSION
Findings from the review suggest conducting studies with qualitative methodologies to gain an in-depth understanding of QOL from patients' perspectives. Additional studies with robust designs and methods are also necessary to develop and test theory-based, empirically-derived interventions that help maintain or promote QOL in patients with terminal cancer.

MeSH Terms

Adult*
Diagnosis
Humans
Korea*
Methods
Qualitative Research
Quality of Life*

Figure

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  Figure 1. Process of data identification, screening, and evaluation.

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