Abstract
Background
Evidence for effectiveness of nurse-led interventions for cancer-related symptoms is of variable quality. This study aimed to identify, appraise and evaluate the nature and effectiveness of nurse-led interventions on symptoms for people with cancer.
Methods
A systematic review and meta-analysis. Ten major databases were searched (2000 to 2018, no language restrictions). Two reviewers applied a priori selection criteria; data extraction included design, population, cancer type, and cancer-related symptoms. Interventions and providers were profiled using TIDieR reporting guidelines, and content analysis of components. Methodological quality was assessed using Cochrane risk of bias. A meta-analysis was performed using mean and standardised mean differences with 95% confidence intervals. Overall certainty was assessed using GRADE.
Results
From 29193 records, 149 studies (n = 107286 participants) from 22 countries were eligible. Interventions included multiple components; education and psychological approaches dominated. Pooled meta-analyses found evidence of benefit for nurse-led interventions on measures of constipation (MD −4.54, 95% CI −8.08 to −0.99; 645 participants; 6 trials; I2 = 0%; P = 0.01); nausea and vomiting (MD −1.97, 95% CI −3.61 to −0.33; 957 participants; 8 trials; I 2 = 12%; P = 0.02) and fatigue (MD −4.63, 95% CI −7.97 to −1.30; 1208 participants; 11 trials; I2 = 34%; P = 0.007). Psychological morbidity (anxiety, depression, mood) also improved. However, few trials used consistent outcome measures, interventions were poorly defined, and certainty of evidence was low or very low.
Conclusion
Nurse-led interventions improve specific cancer-related symptoms, including psychological morbidity. Enhanced reporting and collaboration to develop a minimum core dataset would strengthen the quality of evidence.
Evidence for effectiveness of nurse-led interventions for cancer-related symptoms is of variable quality. This study aimed to identify, appraise and evaluate the nature and effectiveness of nurse-led interventions on symptoms for people with cancer.
Methods
A systematic review and meta-analysis. Ten major databases were searched (2000 to 2018, no language restrictions). Two reviewers applied a priori selection criteria; data extraction included design, population, cancer type, and cancer-related symptoms. Interventions and providers were profiled using TIDieR reporting guidelines, and content analysis of components. Methodological quality was assessed using Cochrane risk of bias. A meta-analysis was performed using mean and standardised mean differences with 95% confidence intervals. Overall certainty was assessed using GRADE.
Results
From 29193 records, 149 studies (n = 107286 participants) from 22 countries were eligible. Interventions included multiple components; education and psychological approaches dominated. Pooled meta-analyses found evidence of benefit for nurse-led interventions on measures of constipation (MD −4.54, 95% CI −8.08 to −0.99; 645 participants; 6 trials; I2 = 0%; P = 0.01); nausea and vomiting (MD −1.97, 95% CI −3.61 to −0.33; 957 participants; 8 trials; I 2 = 12%; P = 0.02) and fatigue (MD −4.63, 95% CI −7.97 to −1.30; 1208 participants; 11 trials; I2 = 34%; P = 0.007). Psychological morbidity (anxiety, depression, mood) also improved. However, few trials used consistent outcome measures, interventions were poorly defined, and certainty of evidence was low or very low.
Conclusion
Nurse-led interventions improve specific cancer-related symptoms, including psychological morbidity. Enhanced reporting and collaboration to develop a minimum core dataset would strengthen the quality of evidence.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 100052 |
| Journal | Health Sciences Review |
| Early online date | 2 Sept 2022 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | E-pub ahead of print - 2 Sept 2022 |
Keywords
- nurse-led interventions, systematic review, meta-analysis, quality of life, cancer
Documents and Links
- Kelly, D. et al (2022) The effectiveness of nurse-led interventions for cancer symptom management 2000–2018: A systematic review and meta-analysis
© 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)