Mapping the Knowledge on Coping Processes in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer

A Scoping Review Protocol

Abstract

Background: Pancreatic cancer is one of the malignant diseases with the highest cancer-specific mortality. At the time of diagnosis, life expectancy is often already very limited, as it is usually discovered late and in an advanced stage. Coping with cancer is a complex process. Coping strategies of patients with pancreatic cancer probably differ from those of other malignancies. Yet to date, there exists no pancreatic cancer-specific coping model.

Objective: The objective of this scoping review is to explore and characterize the academic literature related to coping processes in patients with pancreatic cancer.

Methods/Design: The JBI's three-step search strategy, combined with the Arksey and O'Malley framework, will be used to identify articles via PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Google Scholar, CAMbase, CareLit, CC Med, Scopus, and PsycARTICLES (Arksey & O'Malley, 2005; Peters et al., 2017). It follows the PRISMA guidelines for scoping reviews (Tricco et al., 2018). Primary and secondary studies and reviews which report on coping with pancreatic cancer (adenocarcinoma) in adults in English or German language will be included in this scoping review, regardless of publication date or study design.

Discussion: This scoping review will add new insights on coping with pancreatic cancer by summarizing current knowledge, and identifying research