The experience of patients with cancer on narrative practice: A systematic review and meta‐synthesis

• Published in: Health expectations : an international journal of public participation in health care and health policy Vol. 23; no. 2; pp. 274 - 283
• Main Authors: Yang, Yan, Xu, Jiehui, Hu, Yihui, Hu, Jiale, Jiang, Anli
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01-04-2020; John Wiley and Sons Inc; Wiley
• Subjects: Cancer; Cancer patients; Care and treatment; experience; Healing; Health psychology; Humans; meta‐synthesis; narrative practice; Narratives; Neoplasms - therapy; Oncology, Experimental; Original Research Paper; Original Research Papers; Patient satisfaction; Patients; patients with cancer; Qualitative Research; Systematic review; Writing; meta-synthesis; experience; patients with cancer; systematic review; narrative practice
• ISSN: 1369-6513; 1369-7625
• DOI: 10.1111/hex.13003

Background
In recent years, narrative practice has been applied in clinical settings to address the relational and psychological concerns that occur in tandem with physical illness. It is an emerging strategy to treat patients as individuals with their own stories, rather than purely based on symptoms.
Objective
To synthesize the experience of patients with cancer using narrative practice.
Methods
Following a systematic search strategy, a literature search was conducted to identify qualitative studies on the experience of patients with cancer using narrative practice. Nine databases were searched up to April 2018, which included six English databases and three Chinese databases. A meta‐synthesis was conducted to synthesize the findings of the included studies.
Main Results
Seven studies out of 2894 studies were included in this review. Patients with cancer had different preferences on narrative practices. In terms of the impacts of narrative practice on patients with cancer, six themes were identified, which included ‘(a) reducing the gap between patients and clinicians; (b) healing effect; (c) social connection; (d) facilitating self‐reflection, self‐recognition and self‐realization; (e) risk of negative impacts; and (f) Patients' preference on different approaches of narrative practice’.
Conclusions
Patients with cancer experienced positive effects regarding narrative practice. Although some patients may experience negative effects, narrative practice is a humanized way to provide care for patients with cancer in the clinical settings.