Coding, quality assessment procedures, data synthesis,
and analysis
Four broad categories of QOL were applied. Indices referring
to the presence of physical symptoms (related and
unrelated to lung cancer) and the presence of negative
emotions or distress symptoms were respectively coded as
physical and emotional aspects of QOL. Performance of
and satisfaction with social roles (job, family tasks, etc.)
and performance/satisfaction with daily functioning (e.g.,
ability to walk) were coded as social and functional aspects
of QOL, respectively. Social support categories were applied
using original categories (as proposed in analyzed research)
of source (family and friends, medical personnel, spouse,
closest person), functions (emotional, informational, or
instrumental), and type (perceived, received, need for, satisfaction).
The coefficients of concordance for categorizing
variables were high (all Kappas≥.70, ps<.05).
In line with previous systematic reviews [22,23], the
following analytical strategy was applied: (1) data indicating
whether the association between an index of social
support and an index of QOL was significant were
retrieved from the original studies and defined as ‘a unit of
relationship’; (2) the unit was coded as ‘0’ if the association
was not significant, ‘+’ if the association was significant and
showing that higher support was related to better QOL, or
‘—’ if the association was significant and showing that
higher support was related to poorer QOL.
The findings within one unit were then coded as indicating
a significant relationship in the original study if
significant associations between a social support index
and at least 60% of QOL indices for its respective aspect
showed such associations (e.g., significant associations
were found between the support index and two out of
three indices of the emotional aspect of QOL included in
a study). The 60% threshold has been applied in earlier
reviews.
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