Coping Skills Interventions for Fatigue in Adults with Hematologic Malignancies: A Systematic Review.
Lucy Andersen, Molly McHugh, Connie Ulrich and 2 others
PMID 35524400WHAT IT FOUND
Coping skills interventions reduced fatigue in 7 of 12 studies, with 4 reaching statistical significance.
Individual, video-based, and longer (8+ weeks) interventions combining problem and emotion-focused strategies appeared most effective.
Key findings
01Seven of twelve studies reported a reduction in fatigue, but only four reached statistical significance (p < 0.05).
02Interventions that combined problem-focused and emotion-focused coping were more effective than those that were solely emotion-focused.
03Individual delivery, video-based telehealth, and durations of 8 weeks or longer were associated with better fatigue reduction compared to group, telephone, or shorter interventions.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The evidence base is heterogeneous, with varying intervention types, durations, and measurement tools, making direct comparison difficult. Most included studies were of low quality (IIB or IIC), with no Level IA (high quality RCT) studies. Sample sizes were generally small, and many studies lacked control groups or fidelity measures. Participant demographics were often not reported or skewed toward white, female, and college-educated individuals, limiting generalizability. Attrition was significant in some studies due to physical decline or death, which may bias results toward those who tolerated the intervention.
Declared interests
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the 7/12 positive studies as strong evidence of efficacy. Only 4 reached statistical significance, and the majority of included studies were of low quality. The mixed results and heterogeneity mean no single coping intervention is proven superior.