Skin Reactions Search Strategy and Results

Initial references prior to update: 20

Databases searched for update: PubMed, CINAHL

Search results of literature retrieved January 1, 2009–January 5, 2017:

  • PubMed:
    • (Therapy/Broad[filter] OR systematic[sb]) AND (((rash[ti] OR "hand-foot"[ti] OR HFSR[ti] OR Acneiform Eruptions[mesh] OR dermatol*[ti] OR cutaneous[ti]) AND (manag*[ti] OR intervention*[ti] OR reduc*[ti] OR prevent*[ti])) OR (("Antibodies, Monoclonal/adverse effects"[MAJR] OR "Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects"[MAJR] OR Acneiform Eruptions[majr]) AND (Eyelash* OR rash*[ti] OR dermatol*[ti] OR skin[ti] OR cutaneous[ti]))) AND ("2009/01/01"[PDAT] : "2017/01/05"[PDAT] AND English[lang] AND cancer[sb])
    • 657 citations retrieved
  • CINAHL:
    • ( (TI rash OR TI "hand-foot" OR TI HFSR OR MH “Acneiform Eruptions” OR TI dermatol* OR TI cutaneous) AND (TI manag* OR TI intervention* OR TI reduc* OR TI prevent*) ) OR ( (MM "Antibodies, Monoclonal/AE" OR MM "Antineoplastic Agents/AE" OR MM “Acneiform Eruptions”) AND (Eyelash* OR TI rash* OR TI dermatol* OR TI skin OR TI cutaneous) ) 
    • Limiters: English Language; Clinical Queries: Therapy - High Sensitivity, Therapy - High Specificity, Therapy - Best Balance
    • 108 citations retrieved

137 titles were selected for full article review.

76 final studies were included after the removal of duplicates and studies that did not meet inclusion criteria and the addition of manuscripts retrieved in other topics meeting skin reactions-specific criteria.

Inclusion Criteria: 

  1. Full research report, systematic review, guideline, or meta-analysis
  2. Study must report results of measurement of rash, PPE, xerosis, pruitis, paronychia, or photosensitivity associated with chemotherapy treatment
  3. The study examines an intervention aimed at affecting the skin reaction.
  4. The study sample must include patients with cancer.
  5. As of 1/1/2016, additional inclusions are (a) sample size of at least 40 or 20 per study group, and (b) for complex interventions, the description of the intervention must be sufficient to identify the components of that intervention.

Exclusion Criteria: 

  1. Grey literature
  2. Descriptive-only study 
  3. Case studies or case series only
  4. Studies involving skin effects not listed in inclusions
  5. Studies involving patients treated with radiotherapy or combined radiotherapy and chemotherapy