Table 2 Characteristics of the papers by publication period

before 01.01.1999

after 01.01.1999

total

N = 160

N = 191

N = 351

%

%

%

Kind of journal

   medical

23

30

27

   nursing

43

29

35

   psychological

7

12

10

   bioethical or social science

4

4

4

   public health

11

13

12

   multidisciplinary

12

12

12

Paper type

   original article

91

88

89

   methodological paper

4

7

6

   review

4

5

4

   not evaluable

1

0

1

Sample size*

   <15

19

24

22

   15–50

26

22

24

   >50

38

40

39

   Not specified

17

14

15

Declared methodological approach*

   phenomenological

8

2

5

   grounded theory

10

10

10

   anthropological

1

1

1

   ethnographic

4

3

4

   Other

4

4

4

   Not specified

73

80

76

Data gathering method*

   observation

1

2

2

   interview

65

55

59

   focus group

8

12

11

   narrative

3

1

2

   multiple method

4

12

8

   Not specified

12

15

14

Typology of subjects involved*

   Cancer patients

46

49

48

   Family

15

18

17

   Nurse

13

3

7

   General population

11

10

11

   Other health care workers

9

11

10

   Miscellanea

5

6

6

   Not evaluable

1

3

5

Main theme considered*

   Illness experience

17

22

20

   Information/communication

13

17

15

   Cancer prevention

12

10

11

   End of life

9

11

10

   Psychological aspects

9

5

7

   Nursing practice

7

1

4

   Palliative care

6

14

10

   Cultural aspects and attitudes

5

2

3

   Pain

5

3

3

   Fatigue

3

2

2

   Coping style

3

5

4

   Quality of life

3

2

3

   Needs assessment/satisfaction

1

4

2

   Miscellanea

5

1

3

   Not evaluable

2

3

2