Psychosocial impact of sarcoma: challenges and adaptation, a meta-synthesis

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dc.contributor.authorBeghean, R.
dc.contributor.authorO'Driscoll, L.
dc.contributor.authorRyan, E.
dc.contributor.authorCarty, P.
dc.contributor.authorLarkin, F.
dc.contributor.authorO'Keeffe, F.
dc.date.accessioned2026-07-24T10:50:03Z
dc.date.available2026-07-24T10:50:03Z
dc.date.issued2026-07-07
dc.description.abstractObjectives: Sarcoma is a rare and heterogeneous cancer frequently associated with significant psychosocial burden. This review aims to synthesise qualitative research to examine the psychosocial impact of sarcoma in adults, focusing on how individuals experience and make sense of disruption across diagnosis, treatment, recovery, and survivorship, the ways they adapt to these challenges, and the psychosocial needs they identify throughout the sarcoma trajectory. Methods: A preregistered systematic review (PROSPERO CRD42024571502) was conducted following PRISMA and ENTREQ guidance. Four databases were searched (PsycINFO, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Web of Science), and peer-reviewed qualitative studies involving adults with sarcoma were included. Updated search conducted on 30/12/2025. Study quality was appraised using CASP, and data were synthesised using inductive thematic synthesis to integrate experiential accounts and generate analytical insights. Results: Forty studies published between 2008 and 2025 involving 538 participants were included, with most rated high methodological quality. Five themes captured sarcoma as a cumulative psychosocial disruption, beginning with diagnostic delay and uncertainty, intensifying through invasive treatment and prolonged recovery, and extending into enduring changes in body image, function, identity, and social participation. Adaptation emerged as a dynamic, ongoing process involving self-management, meaning-making, selective information engagement, and reliance on relational and professional support. Persistent unmet needs were identified, particularly regarding specialist, coordinated care and sarcoma-informed rehabilitation. Conclusions: Experiences of sarcoma as adults are characterised by prolonged psychosocial disruption requiring adaptation across all stages of the illness. Findings highlight the importance of specialist, continuous, and rehabilitation-focused sarcoma care to support long-term adjustment and wellbeing.en
dc.description.versionPublished Version
dc.format.extent36
dc.format.mimetypeapplication/pdfen
dc.identifier.articleide70534
dc.identifier.authororcidBeghean, R.
dc.identifier.authororcidO'Driscoll, L.
dc.identifier.authororcidRyan, E.§0000-0001-7686-7194
dc.identifier.authororcidCarty, P.
dc.identifier.authororcidLarkin, F.§0000-0003-3838-9165
dc.identifier.authororcidO'Keeffe, F.§0009-0004-8233-8124
dc.identifier.citationBeghean, R, O'Driscoll, L, Ryan, E, Carty, P, Larkin, F & O'Keeffe, F 2026, 'Psychosocial impact of sarcoma: challenges and adaptation, a meta-synthesis', Psycho-Oncology, vol. 35, no. 7, e70534, pp. 1-36. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.70534
dc.identifier.doi10.1002/pon.70534
dc.identifier.endpage36
dc.identifier.issn1057-9249
dc.identifier.issued7
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0009-0004-8233-8124/work/221759632
dc.identifier.otherORCID: /0000-0001-7686-7194/work/221760918
dc.identifier.startpage1
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10468/19094
dc.identifier.volume35
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherJohn Wiley and Sons Ltd
dc.relation.urihttps://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105044042523
dc.rights© 2026, The Author(s). Psycho-Oncology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
dc.rights.accessrightsopen access
dc.statusPeer reviewed
dc.subjectAdaptation
dc.subjectBone cancer
dc.subjectCancer
dc.subjectChallenges
dc.subjectPsychosocial impact
dc.subjectQualitative research
dc.subjectSarcoma
dc.subjectSoft tissue sarcoma
dc.subjectThematic synthesis
dc.subject[FoodNutritionalSciences]
dc.subject[AppliedPsychology]
dc.titlePsychosocial impact of sarcoma: challenges and adaptation, a meta-synthesisen
dc.typeReview
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