Intolerance of Uncertainty and Its Association With Cancer-Related Symptoms: A Scoping Review.

Abstract

Background: Cancer-related symptoms have negative impacts on the health outcomes of adults with cancer. Thus, it is critical to identify who might be at risk. Intolerance of uncertainty (IU) could be the major contributor for cancer-related symptoms; however, this relationship is understudied in the context of cancer.

Objective: The purpose of this scoping review was to map the literature that has investigated IU and its link to cancer-related symptoms.

Methods: This scoping review used the framework proposed by Arksey and O'Malley and PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews). A comprehensive search was conducted using 5 databases. English-language primary research published focusing on IU and cancer-related symptoms was included in this review.

Results: Of 12 articles included in this review, 11 studies found a positive relationship of IU with affective symptoms, including anxiety, depression, stress, fear, worry, and distress. Additionally, one study showed that higher IU was associated with greater cognitive impairment and that association was mediated by anxiety.

Conclusion: Findings from this scoping review support the positive association between IU and cancer-related symptoms. This review further suggests that IU could be a potential risk factor for cancer-related affective and cognitive symptoms.

Implication for practice: The incidence of affective and cognitive symptoms in cancer survivors is high. Given that IU is associated with these symptoms, IU-focused treatments may be beneficial in this group.