Effectiveness of tailored interventions on quality of life in cancer survivors: A systematic review

Objectives: This systematic review aimed to identify effective components and assess the statistical, practical, and clinical significance of tailored interventions for enhancing cancer survivors' quality of life. Methods: Twenty-four clinical trials were selected based on search results from five databases. Study quality was assessed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool 2.0, and data were synthesized through qualitative analysis. Results: Most trials focused on post-treatment cancer survivors with a single type of cancer. Tailored interventions included physical activity, nutrition, psychosocial change, and symptom management, utilizing education, counseling, feedback, and monitoring. These interventions improved social and physical aspects of quality of life, as well as overall health status. Remote, iterative tailored interventions positively impacted the social aspects of quality of life for cancer survivors. Interventions incorporating theoretical determinants such as readiness to change and self-efficacy were notably effective in enhancing quality of life. Conclusions: This review indicates that tailored interventions leveraging theoretical determinants to boost motivation and using remote, interactive modes can improve quality of life among cancer survivors. Additional rigorous studies with longer follow-ups are needed to confirm the long-term effects of these interventions. Practice implications: The findings provide insights into essential intervention components and research approaches for planning tailored interventions to improve quality of life for cancer survivors. Notably, this review identified minimal clinically important differences for a range of quality of life measures specific to cancer survivors.