Quality of life of cancer patients at palliative care units in developing countries: systematic review of the published literature.

PURPOSE: This systematic review aims to summarize factors that influence the quality of life (QOL) of advanced cancer patients in palliative care (PC) in developing countries. Understanding this context in developing countries milieu is necessary; however, this outcome is rarely reported. METHODS: Following the PRISMA guidelines, the electronic databases MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, and Web of Science were systematically searched using the search terms: QOL, cancer, PC, and names of all developing countries. Studies with less than ten subjects, qualitative or pilot studies, reviews, conference abstracts, and that reported validation of QOL questionnaires were excluded. RESULTS: Fifty-five studies from 15 developing countries in the African (n = 5), Latin America and the Caribbean (n = 10), and Asian (n = 40) region were included in the narrative synthesis. 65.4% were cross-sectional, 27.3% were cohort studies, 7.3% were RCTs or quasi-experimental studies. Around 30 QOL factors were studied with 20 different types of QOL instruments. Advanced cancer patients who were older, married/ever married, participated in additional care within PC, used complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), and practiced spirituality/religiosity showed higher QOL score. Low educational level and high depression were associated with a lower QOL. CONCLUSION: Various factors affect QOL among cancer patients in PC. Patients valued the use of CAMs; however, the quality and safety aspects should be properly addressed. Important factors that influenced the QOL score were social and spiritual support. While there is a general need to develop PC strategies further, recognizing patients' needs should be prioritized in national cancer programs.

Influence of Micronutrient Consumption by Tuberculosis Patients on the Sputum Conversion Rate: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Study.

BACKGROUND: infectious disease is one of the global health challenge in the world, including tuberculosis. Some factors significantly associated with increased treatment success, including the duration of treatment or treatment compliance, use more than three sensitive drugs, individualized regimen, and weight-related to micronutrient. METHODS: a systematic review and meta-analysis study of randomized control trial studies conducted and reported by preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses. The primary data source was online publications, consist of three bases data, which subscribed by Universitas Indonesia, they are Proquest, EBSCO CINAHL, EBSCO Dentistry. Risk of bias was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool, and data were analyzed using Review Manager 2015. RESULTS: there were eight full paper rates as relevant studies. There was a significant difference of effect among the intervention group compared the control group (or placebo group). RR of the pooled estimate was 1.12 (95% CI: 1.06 - 1.18) with heterogeneity study 36%. While, the poled calculated based on type of micronutrient from seven studies showed there was no difference of sputum conversion between Vitamin D and placebo group (RR-1.05, 95% CI 0.99 - 1.12) with heterogeneity study 0% and a significant result seems among Zinc and Retinol intervention (RR=1.21, 95% CI 1.09 - 1.35) with heterogeneity study 40%. CONCLUSION: micronutrient intervention during tuberculosis treatment has a positive effect toward to sputum conversion among patient. Zinc and retinol influence sputum conversion while vitamin D did not.