Table 1.
Original Article Characteristics (N=742)
| Characteristics | N (%) |
|---|---|
| Year | |
| 2004 | 299 (40) |
| 2009 | 443 (60) |
| Research method | |
| Case series | 409 (55) |
| Cross sectional | 103 (14) |
| Cohort | 66 (9) |
| Qualitative | 77 (10) |
| Population | 21 (3) |
| Randomized Controlled Trials | 46 (6) |
| Other a | 20 (3) |
| Study type | |
| Retrospective | 338 (46) |
| Prospective | 404 (54) |
| Study population b | |
| Patients | 675 (91) |
| Caregivers | 94 (13) |
| Health care professionals | 23 (3) |
| Study topic | |
| Physical | 415 (56) |
| Psychosocial | 127 (17) |
| Communication/Decision making | 53 (7) |
| Health services | 93 (13) |
| Other c | 54 (7) |
| Cancer type | |
| Mixed | 503 (68) |
| Specific tumor type | 239 (32) |
| Pediatrics | 22 (3) |
| Therapeutic studies | 313 (42) |
| Interventional studies | 342 (46) |
| Location of corresponding author | |
| Africa | 7 (1) |
| Asia | 128 (17) |
| Australia | 41 (6) |
| Europe | 299 (40) |
| Latin America | 8 (1) |
| North America | 259 (35) |
| Journal type | |
| Palliative Care | 332 (45) |
| Oncology | 127 (17) |
| Other d | 283 (38) |
| Median sample size (Interquartile range) | 53.5 (15-180) |
a
Studies with mixed methodologies
b
The percentage adds up to above 100% because many studies involve various type of study population
c
Included topics on spirituality, complimentary medicine, quality of life, education and research
d
None-oncology and non-palliative care journals, such as general medicine, surgical or pediatric journals