A systematic review of the impact of stigma and nihilism on lung cancer outcomes
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND: This study systematically reviewed the evidence on the influence of stigma and nihilism on lung cancer patterns of care; patients' psychosocial and quality of life (QOL) outcomes; and how this may link to public health programs. METHODS: Medline, EMBASE, ProQuest, CINAHL, PsycINFO databases were searched. Inclusion criteria were: included lung cancer patients and/or partners or caregivers and/or health professionals (either at least 80% of participants had lung cancer or were partners or caregivers of lung cancer patients, or there was a lung cancer specific sub-group focus or analysis), assessed stigma or nihilism with respect to lung cancer and published in English between 1st January 1999 and 31st January 2011. Trial quality and levels of evidence were assessed. RESULTS: Eighteen articles describing 15 studies met inclusion criteria. The seven qualitative studies were high quality with regard to data collection, analysis and reporting; however most lacked a clear theoretical framework; did not address interviewer bias; or provide a rationale for sample size. The eight quantitative studies were generally of low quality with highly selected samples, non-comparable groups and low participation rates and employed divergent theoretical and measurement approaches. Stigma about lung cancer was reported by patients and health professionals and was related to poorer QOL and higher psychological distress in patients. Clear empirical explorations of nihilism were not evident. There is qualitative evidence that from the patients' perspectives public health programs contribute to stigma about lung cancer and this was supported by published commentary. CONCLUSIONS: Health-related stigma presents as a part of the lung cancer experience however there are clear limitations in the research to date. Future longitudinal and multi-level research is needed and this should be more clearly linked to relevant theory.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Stigma among members of stigmatized groups is linked with psychological distress, reduced self-esteem, poor quality of life, reduction of social support networks, and delays in seeking care from healthcare professionals.
“It has been linked with psychological distress, reduced self-esteem, poor quality of life, a reduction of social support networks, and delays in seeking care from healthcare professionals [29–32].”
From The Stigma of Suicide Survivorship and Related Consequences—A Systematic Review (2016) · cites this paper as [29]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
2 retracted
RETRACTED: 100 years of lung cancer
Pirożyński, M. (2006) · Respiratory Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.rmed.2006.09.002 · Cited by 110 · see citing works
RetractedRetraction Notice to “100 years of lung cancer” [Respiratory Medicine 100(12) (2006) 2073-2084]
Pirożyński, M. (2009) · Respiratory Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.rmed.2009.04.018 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
RetractedEysenck, H. J. (1985) · Behaviour Research and Therapy · doi:10.1016/0005-7967(85)90087-7 · Cited by 32,026 · see citing works
Liberati, A., Altman, D. G., Tetzlaff, J., Mulrow, C., Gøtzsche, P. C., Ioannidis, J. P. A., Clarke, M., Devereaux, P. J., Kleijnen, J., & Moher, D. (2009) · PLoS Medicine · doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1000100 · Cited by 28,164 · see citing works
“Stress: appraisal and coping,”
Folkman, S. (2013) · Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine · doi:10.1007/978-1-4419-1005-9_215 · Cited by 27,833 · see citing works
Estimates of worldwide burden of cancer in 2008: GLOBOCAN 2008
Ferlay, J., Shin, H., Bray, F., Forman, D., Mathers, C. D., & Parkin, D. M. (2010) · International Journal of Cancer · doi:10.1002/ijc.25516 · Cited by 21,271 · see citing works
Liberati, A., Altman, D. G., Tetzlaff, J., Mulrow, C., Gotzsche, P. C., Ioannidis, J. P. A., Clarke, M., Devereaux, P. J., Kleijnen, J., & Moher, D. (2009) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.b2700 · Cited by 17,648 · see citing works
Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity
(1969) · Postgraduate Medical Journal · doi:10.1136/pgmj.45.527.642 · Cited by 14,251 · see citing works
SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975-2003
Ries, L. A. G., Harkins, D., Krapcho, M. F., Mariotto, A. B., Miller, B., Feuer, E. J., Clegg, L. X., Eisner, M. P., Horner, M., Howlader, N., et al. (2006) · Digital Archive @ GSU · Cited by 11,404 · see citing works
Stigma: Notes on the Management of Spoiled Identity.
Seeman, M. S., & Goffman, E. (1964) · American Sociological Review · doi:10.2307/2091442 · Cited by 10,716 · see citing works
Liberati, A., Altman, D. G., Tetzlaff, J., Mulrow, C., Gøtzsche, P. C., Ioannidis, J. P. A., Clarke, M., Devereaux, P. J., Kleijnen, J., & Moher, D. (2009) · Journal of Clinical Epidemiology · doi:10.1016/j.jclinepi.2009.06.006 · Cited by 10,578 · see citing works
Link, B. G., & Phelan, J. C. (2001) · Annual Review of Sociology · doi:10.1146/annurev.soc.27.1.363 · Cited by 8,848 · see citing works
The Social Transformation of American Medicine
Leavitt, J. W., & Starr, P. (1984) · The American Historical Review · doi:10.2307/1862729 · Cited by 3,257 · see citing works
The Social Psychology of Stigma
Major, B., & O'Brien, L. T. (2005) · Annual Review of Psychology · doi:10.1146/annurev.psych.56.091103.070137 · Cited by 3,114 · see citing works
Evolving guidelines for publication of qualitative research studies in psychology and related fields
Elliott, R., Fischer, C. T., & Rennie, D. L. (1999) · British Journal of Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1348/014466599162782 · Cited by 2,491 · see citing works
SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975-2008, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD
Howlader, N. (2011) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 2,436 · see citing works
Measuring stigma in people with HIV: Psychometric assessment of the HIV stigma scale¶
Berger, B. E., Ferrans, C. E., & Lashley, F. R. (2001) · Research in Nursing & Health · doi:10.1002/nur.10011 · Cited by 1,601 · see citing works
Preventing Tobacco Use among Youth and young Adults: A Report of the Surgeon General
(2012) · PsycEXTRA Dataset · doi:10.1037/e603152012-001 · Cited by 1,454 · see citing works
Health-related stigma: Rethinking concepts and interventions 1
Weiss, M. G., Ramakrishna, J., & Somma, D. (2006) · Psychology Health & Medicine · doi:10.1080/13548500600595053 · Cited by 828 · see citing works
The International Epidemiology of Lung Cancer: Geographical Distribution and Secular Trends
Youlden, D. R., Cramb, S. M., & Baade, P. D. (2008) · Journal of Thoracic Oncology · doi:10.1097/jto.0b013e31818020eb · Cited by 817 · see citing works
Self-citationStigma, shame, and blame experienced by patients with lung cancer: qualitative study
Chapple, A., Ziebland, S., & McPherson, A. (2004) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.38111.639734.7c · Cited by 789 · see citing works
The Social Transformation of American Medicine
Kissick, W. L., & Starr, P. (1983) · Journal of Policy Analysis and Management · doi:10.2307/3324029 · Cited by 735 · see citing works
The fight against stigma: An overview of stigma-reduction strategies and interventions
Heijnders, M., & Van Der Meij, S. (2006) · Psychology, Health & Medicine · doi:10.1080/13548500600595327 · Cited by 726 · see citing works
Tobacco in Australia : facts and issues 1995
Winstanley, M. H., Woodward, S. D., & Walker, N. (1995) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 697 · see citing works
Handbook of social and clinical psychology: the health perspective
(1991) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.28-6501 · Cited by 660 · see citing works
A hierarchy of evidence for assessing qualitative health research
Daly, J., Willis, K., Small, R., Green, J., Welch, N., Kealy, M., & Hughes, E. (2007) · Journal of Clinical Epidemiology · doi:10.1016/j.jclinepi.2006.03.014 · Cited by 545 · see citing works
Social Motivation, Justice, and the Moral Emotions
Weiner, B. L. (2006) · Psychology Press eBooks · doi:10.4324/9781410615749 · Cited by 508 · see citing works
Smoking and the emergence of a stigmatized social status
Stuber, J., Galea, S., & Link, B. G. (2008) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2008.03.010 · Cited by 452 · see citing works
The Effects of Tobacco Control Policies on Smoking Rates
Levy, D. T., Chaloupka, F. J., & Gitchell, J. G. (2004) · Journal of Public Health Management and Practice · doi:10.1097/00124784-200407000-00011 · Cited by 432 · see citing works
One Hundred Years of Lung Cancer
Spiro, S. G., & Silvestri, G. A. (2005) · American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine · doi:10.1164/rccm.200504-531oe · Cited by 379 · see citing works
How to use the evidence: assessment and application of scientific evidence
Glasziou, P., Irwig, L., Bain, C., & Colditz, G. A. (2000) · Cited by 378 · see citing works
Stigma and the ethics of public health: Not can we but should we
Bayer, R. (2008) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2008.03.017 · Cited by 378 · see citing works
Surveillance for selected tobacco-use behaviors--United States, 1900-1994.
Giovino, G. A., Schooley, M., Zhu, B., Chrismon, J. H., Tomar, S. L., Peddicord, J. P., Merritt, R. K., Husten, C. G., & Eriksen, M. P. (1994) · PubMed · Cited by 352 · see citing works
Social Motivation, Justice, and the Moral Emotions: An Attributional Approach
Weiner, B. L. (2005) · Cited by 344 · see citing works
Perceived stigma, self-blame, and adjustment among lung, breast and prostate cancer patients
Else-Quest, N. M., LoConte, N. K., Schiller, J. H., & Hyde, J. S. (2008) · Psychology and Health · doi:10.1080/08870440802074664 · Cited by 249 · see citing works
Corner, J. L. (2005) · Thorax · doi:10.1136/thx.2004.029264 · Cited by 240 · see citing works
The molecular epidemiology of lung cancer
Schwartz, A. G., Prysak, G. M., Bock, C. H., & Coté, M. L. (2006) · Carcinogenesis · doi:10.1093/carcin/bgl253 · Cited by 216 · see citing works
Stigma in Cancer Patients Whose Behavior may Have Contributed to Their Disease
Lebel, S., & Devins, G. M. (2008) · Future Oncology · doi:10.2217/14796694.4.5.717 · Cited by 213 · see citing works
Cataldo, J. K., SLAUGHTER, R. E., Jahan, T. M., Pongquan, V. L., & Hwang, W. J. (2010) · Oncology nursing forum · doi:10.1188/11.onf.e46-e54 · Cited by 192 · see citing works
Corner, J. L., Hopkinson, J. B., & Roffe, L. (2005) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2005.08.012 · Cited by 173 · see citing works
LoConte, N. K., Else-Quest, N. M., Eickhoff, J. C., Hyde, J. S., & Schiller, J. H. (2008) · Clinical Lung Cancer · doi:10.3816/clc.2008.n.026 · Cited by 164 · see citing works
Burris, S. C. (2008) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2008.03.020 · Cited by 140 · see citing works
Diagnostic delay in lung cancer: a qualitative study
Tod, A., Craven, J., & Allmark, P. (2008) · Journal of Advanced Nursing · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2648.2007.04542.x · Cited by 128 · see citing works
Siminoff, L. A., Genderson, M. W., & Baker, S. (2010) · Psycho-Oncology · doi:10.1002/pon.1696 · Cited by 114 · see citing works
Holland, J. C., Kelly, B. J., & Weinberger, M. I. (2010) · Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network · doi:10.6004/jnccn.2010.0028 · Cited by 112 · see citing works
Sharf, B. F., Stelljes, L. A., & Gordon, H. S. (2005) · Psycho-Oncology · doi:10.1002/pon.885 · Cited by 98 · see citing works
The self, appraisal, and coping.
Smith, C. A. (1991) · Cited by 85 · see citing works
Leydon, G., BYNOE-SUTHERLAND, J., & Coleman, M. P. (2003) · European Journal of Cancer Care · doi:10.1046/j.1365-2354.2003.00418.x · Cited by 80 · see citing works
Facilitating rigorous qualitative research in rehabilitation psychology.
Chwalisz, K., Shah, S. R., & Hand, K. M. (2008) · Rehabilitation Psychology · doi:10.1037/a0012998 · Cited by 69 · see citing works
Wassenaar, T. R., Eickhoff, J. C., Jarzemsky, D. R., Smith, S. S., Larson, M. L., & Schiller, J. H. (2007) · Journal of Thoracic Oncology · doi:10.1097/jto.0b013e3180cc2599 · Cited by 65 · see citing works
Stacked Stigma: Oncology Social Workers’ Perceptions of the Lung Cancer Experience
Conlon, A., Gilbert, D. J., Jones, B. L., & Aldredge, P. A. (2010) · Journal of Psychosocial Oncology · doi:10.1080/07347330903438982 · Cited by 63 · see citing works
Lung cancer: Challenges and solutions for supportive care intervention research
Schofield, P. E., Ugalde, A., Carey, M. L., Mileshkin, L., Duffy, M., Ball, D., & Aranda, S. K. (2008) · Palliative & Supportive Care · doi:10.1017/s1478951508000424 · Cited by 62 · see citing works
Schroen, A. T., Detterbeck, F., Crawford, R., Rivera, M. P., & Socinski, M. A. (2000) · CHEST Journal · doi:10.1378/chest.118.1.129 · Cited by 61 · see citing works
Jennens, R. R., BOER, R. D., Irving, L., et al. (2004) · CHEST Journal · doi:10.1378/chest.126.6.1985 · Cited by 58 · see citing works
Ethical issues in the management of the demented patient
The American Academy of Neurology Ethics and Humanities Subcommittee (1996) · Neurology · doi:10.1212/wnl.46.4.1180 · Cited by 46 · see citing works
Lung cancer patients' perceptions of access to financial benefits: a qualitative study.
Chapple, A., Ziébland, S., McPherson, A., & Summerton, N. (2004) · Europe PMC (PubMed Central) · Cited by 37 · see citing works
Overcoming delay in the diagnosis of lung cancer: a qualitative study
Tod, A., & Joanne, R. (2010) · Nursing Standard · doi:10.7748/ns2010.04.24.31.35.c7690 · Cited by 35 · see citing works
Attribution of Blame for Breast and Lung Cancers in Women
Gulyn, L. M., & Youssef, F. A. (2010) · Journal of Psychosocial Oncology · doi:10.1080/07347331003689052 · Cited by 32 · see citing works
Devitt, B. A., Hatton, A., Baravelli, C. M., Schofield, P. E., Jefford, M., & Mileshkin, L. (2010) · Journal of Thoracic Oncology · doi:10.1097/jto.0b013e3181e004b2 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
Does Blaming the Patient With Lung Cancer Affect the Helping Behavior of Primary Caregivers?
Lobchuk, M., McClement, S., McPherson, C. J., & Cheang, M. (2008) · Oncology nursing forum · doi:10.1188/08.onf.681-689 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
Robin, E. D., & McCauley, R. (1996) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(96)91461-0 · Cited by 31 · see citing works
Building a United Front: Aligning the Agendas for Tobacco Control, Lung Cancer Research, and Policy
Gritz, E. R., Sarna, L. P., Dresler, C. M., & Healton, C. G. (2007) · Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention · doi:10.1158/1055-9965.epi-07-0342 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Stress in Patients With Lung Cancer: A Human Response to Illness
Hansen, F., & Sawatzky, J. V. (2008) · Oncology nursing forum · doi:10.1188/08.onf.217-223 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
A Biopsychosocial Perspective on the Experience of Lung Cancer
Raleigh, Z. T. (2010) · Journal of Psychosocial Oncology · doi:10.1080/07347330903438990 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Coughlan, R. (2004) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.329.7462.402-b · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Are patients with lung cancer the poor relations in oncology?
Ball, D., & Irving, L. B. (2000) · The Medical Journal of Australia · doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.2000.tb123974.x · Cited by 15 · see citing works
Rengan, R., & Hahn, S. M. (2010) · Seminars in Radiation Oncology · doi:10.1016/j.semradonc.2010.01.001 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Comments on treatment strategy for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer
Zwitter, M. (2002) · Lung Cancer · doi:10.1016/s0169-5002(02)00265-9 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- Cigarette smoking among adults and trends in smoking cessation - United States 2008 http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5844a2.htm 19910909
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Cancer treatment and survivorship statistics, 2016
Miller, K. D., Siegel, R. L., Lin, C. C., Mariotto, A. B., Kramer, J. L., Rowland, J. H., Stein, K. D., Alteri, R., & Jemal, A. (2016) · CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians · doi:10.3322/caac.21349 · Cited by 6,066 · see citing works
Emotional Problems, Quality of Life, and Symptom Burden in Patients With Lung Cancer
Morrison, E. J., Novotny, P. J., Sloan, J. A., Yang, P., Patten, C. A., Ruddy, K. J., & Clark, M. M. (2017) · Clinical Lung Cancer · doi:10.1016/j.cllc.2017.02.008 · Cited by 290 · see citing works
The Stigma of Suicide Survivorship and Related Consequences—A Systematic Review
Hanschmidt, F., Lehnig, F., Riedel-Heller, S. G., & Kersting, A. (2016) · PLOS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0162688 · Cited by 184 · see citing works
Ernst, J., Mehnert, A., Dietz, A., Hornemann, B., & Esser, P. (2017) · BMC Cancer · doi:10.1186/s12885-017-3742-2 · Cited by 121 · see citing works
Decreasing smoking but increasing stigma? Anti-tobacco campaigns, public health, and Cancer care
(2017) · AMA Journal of Ethics · doi:10.1001/journalofethics.2017.19.5.msoc1-1705 · Cited by 104 · see citing works
“Stigma is associated with a number of deleterious psychosocial and medical outcomes in lung cancer patients, including delayed diagnoses [25-27], poor quality of life [26], and poor patient-clinician communication [28].”
BackgroundStigma as a barrier to diagnosis of lung cancer: patient and general practitioner perspectives
Scott, N., Crane, M., Lafontaine, M., Seale, H., & Currow, D. (2015) · Primary Health Care Research & Development · doi:10.1017/s1463423615000043 · Cited by 106 · see citing works
Lung cancer stigma and depression: validation of the lung cancer stigma inventory
Ostroff, J. S., Riley, K. E., Shen, M. J., Atkinson, T. M., Williamson, T. J., & Hamann, H. A. (2019) · Psycho-Oncology · doi:10.1002/pon.5033 · Cited by 54 · see citing works
Patient views on smoking, lung cancer, and stigma: A focus group perspective
Lehto, R. H. (2014) · European Journal of Oncology Nursing · doi:10.1016/j.ejon.2014.02.003 · Cited by 54 · see citing works
- Authors
- Chambers, S. K., Dunn, J., Occhipinti, S., Hughes, S., Baade, P., Sinclair, S., Aitken, J., Youl, P., & O’Connell, D. L.
- Affiliations
- Griffith University (AU)
- Cancer Council NSW (AU)
- Cancer Australia (AU)
- The University of Sydney (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Chambers, Suzanne K
- Venue
- BMC Cancer
- Published
- 2012-05-20
- Volume
- 12
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 184-184
- ISSN
- 1471-2407 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC3517321
- OpenAlex
- W2033220257
- Cited by
- 258
- References
- 68
- Citations by year
- 2026: 17 · 2025: 28 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 14 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 25 · 2019: 22 · 2018: 15 · 2017: 19 · 2016: 25 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 17 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 2
- FWCI
- 1.36
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- BMC Cancer (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Griffith Research Online (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
- The Sydney eScholarship Repository (The University of Sydney) (submittedVersion)
- NOVA (University of Newcastle Australia) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Cancer Australia
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Lung Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Global Cancer Incidence and Screening
- Keywords
- lung cancer, stigma, nihilism, quality of life, psychological distress, patterns of care, caregivers, public health programs, health stigma, patient experience
- MeSH terms
- Attitude of Health Personnel, Humans, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Lung Neoplasms, Quality of Life, Caregivers, Social Stigma
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
