Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2014 Jun 30. pii: S1462-3889(14)00071-4. doi: 10.1016/j.ejon.2014.05.002. [Epub ahead of print]
Deckx L, van den Akker M, Buntinx F.
In this systematic review quantitative studies which assessed severity and risk factors of loneliness using a validated loneliness questionnaire in patients with cancer were reviewed. 15 studies were included, in which 13 used the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) loneliness scale. 12 of these studies were included in the meta-analysis. From the studies included in the meta-analysis, the mean UCLA loneliness scale indicated that patients in these studies had a moderate degree of loneliness, with the degree of loneliness increasing the longer the patient had the cancer diagnosis. Increasing levels of loneliness were associated with poor social functioning: being unmarried (never married, widowed or divorced), and lack of psychological or social support. Cancer site, stage of disease or treatments were not associated with loneliness.
Prepared by Jason Boland