| Outcome | Randomized Controlled Trial | Longitudinal Evaluation | Between-Groups P Valuec | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| nb | Effect Size (95% CI) | nb | Effect Size (95% CI) | ||
| Health behavior | |||||
| Aerobic exercise | 1 | 0.20 (0.005 to 0.40)d | 8 | 0.11 (0 to 0.18)d | .38 |
| Cognitive symptom management | 2 | 0.31 (0.09 to 0.53)d | 7 | 0.25 (0.14 to 0.35)d | .61 |
| Communication with physician | 2 | 0.15 (−0.20 to 0.51) | 6 | 0.29 (0.09 to 0.48)d | .51 |
| Stretching/strengthening exercise | 1 | 0.14 (−0.20 to 0.49) | 8 | 0.11 (−0.01 to 0.24) | .86 |
| Psychological health status | |||||
| Depressione | 1 | −0.18 (−0.52 to 0.18) | 5 | −0.22 (−0.30 to −0.13)d | .81 |
| Health distresse | 2 | −0.22 (−0.42 to −0.01)d | 10 | −0.30 (−0.39 to −0.20)d | .47 |
| Overall self-efficacy | 3 | 0.43 (0.21 to 0.64)d | 2 | 0.28 (0.08 to 0.47)d | .29 |
| Self-efficacy for chronic disease management | 0 | NA | 6 | 0.26 (0.11 to 0.40)d | NA |
| Self-efficacy for management of other symptoms | 0 | NA | 6 | 0.28 (0.18 to 0.38)d | NA |
| Physical health status | |||||
| Energy | 3 | 0.21 (−0.02 to 0.44) | 5 | 0.13 (−0.03 to 0.29) | .58 |
| Fatiguee | 1 | 0.03 (−0.30 to 0.37) | 9 | −0.16 (−0.21 to −0.10)d | .27 |
| Functional disabilitye | 1 | −0.15 (−0.33 to 0.03) | 7 | −0.03 (−0.10 to 0.05) | .22 |
| Paine | 1 | 0.04 (−0.29 to 0.37) | 9 | −0.16 (−0.21 to −0.12)d | .23 |
| Self-rated health | 2 | 0.15 (−0.10 to 0.41) | 9 | 0.14 (0.01 to 0.27)d | .93 |
| Social role limitationse | 2 | −0.21 (−0.31 to −0.10)d | 7 | −0.16 (−0.20 to −0.11)d | .41 |
| Shortness of breathe | 1 | 0.05 (−0.18 to 0.28) | 7 | −0.16 (−0.25 to −0.06)d | .10 |
| Health care utilization | |||||
| Emergency department visitse | 0 | NA | 4 | −0.02 (−0.08 to 0.05) | NA |
| Physician visitse | 1 | −0.01 (−0.19 to 0.17) | 8 | −0.04 (−0.09 to 0.02) | .78 |
| Hospitalization days or nightse | 2 | −0.14 (−0.24 to −0.04)d | 6 | −0.06 (−0.12 to −0.002)d | .21 |
| Hospitalization timese | 1 | −0.02 (−0.16 to 0.12) | 6 | −0.01 (−0.07 to 0.06) | .82 |
Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; NA not applicable.
a Effect size is the combination of the standardized differences in means for all eligible studies. Whether data from studies can be appropriately pooled can be established by examining the degree of heterogeneity (ie, the extent to which outcomes vary across studies). We tested heterogeneity by using both the Q statistic and the I 2 statistic; a significant Q statistic (P ≤ .05) indicated significant heterogeneity (ie, a significant difference in effect sizes across studies).
b Number of studies included in analysis.
c Determined by Q test for between groups heterogeneity.
d P < .01, determined by z score test for significance of pooled effect size.
e Negative effect size indicates positive effect (eg, a decrease in depression).