The Effect of Theory‐Guided Positive Psychological Interventions for Patients With Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

AIMS: To critically assess the impact of theory-guided positive psychological interventions on the quality of life of breast cancer patients and survivors. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was conducted across seven electronic databases from inception to August 2024. Randomised controlled trials that examined the effects of theory-guided positive psychological interventions on adult breast cancer patients or survivors and reported quality of life outcomes were included. Screening, data extraction and critical appraisal were independently performed by the reviewers using the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool (RoB2). A meta-analysis was conducted using RevMan Web. The study was reported following the PRISMA 2020 Statement. RESULTS: Five randomised controlled trials were included. Only two of these studies showed a low risk of bias across all quality measures. The meta-analysis demonstrated a significant improvement in quality of life following theory-guided positive psychological interventions, with low heterogeneity. Subgroup analyses revealed that interventions lasting either less than or longer than 3 weeks, and both group-based and individual-based formats, had positive effects on quality of life. Additional psychological benefits were observed including reductions in depressive symptoms, anxiety, perceived stress and improvements in post-traumatic growth, resilience, hope and perceived benefits. One study also reported improvements in sleep quality. CONCLUSION: The findings demonstrate that theory-guided positive psychological interventions can potentially significantly improve quality of life in breast cancer patients. However, the limited number of studies underscores the need for further high-quality research to validate these findings and identify the most effective intervention characteristics. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Our systematic review highlights that theory-guided positive psychological interventions show promise as an effective strategy for improving the quality of life in breast cancer patients. These interventions can enhance psychosocial support strategies, paving the way for better-informed approaches that lead to improved patient outcomes. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: No patient or public contribution. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The systematic review and meta-analysis had been registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) under the registration ID number: CRD42024581382.