Emotional strategies to enhance resilience in patients with cancer : a scoping review

Abstract

Objective: To map and summarize existing evidence on emotional strategies recommended for enhancing resilience in cancer patients, identify research gaps and inform future research. Methods: Following Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines, a comprehensive search was conducted across 11 databases in English and Chinese, supplemented by citation tracking and manual searches for published and unpublished studies. Studies focusing on adult cancer patients and describing emotional strategies to enhance resilience were included and critically appraised using tools appropriate to its design. Data including qualitative descriptions of emotional strategies, quantitative resilience-related emotional variables, and emotional intervention details were extracted and analysed with NVivo 15. Results: A total of 33 papers were included, primarily from China (n ​= ​16) and published as journal articles (n ​= ​30) with randomized controlled trial designs (n ​= ​14). Three key themes were identified: (a) emotion identification; (b) effective emotion regulation; and (c) emotional support from others. Emotional strategies were primarily implemented by nurses (n ​= ​11), delivered online (n ​= ​6) or face-to-face (n ​= ​13). “Positive” and “emotions” were the most frequently mentioned words. Conclusions: Emotion identification, effective emotion regulation, and emotional support from others are essential for enhancing resilience in cancer patients. Many promising strategies remain underutilized and require further validation.