Cancer nursing research priorities: a rapid review

Dowling, M. et al. (2023) Cancer nursing research priorities: a rapid review. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 63, 102272. (doi: 10.1016/j.ejon.2023.102272) (PMID:36827837)

Abstract

Purpose: Identifying cancer nursing research priorities is central to influencing the direction of cancer care research. The aim of this rapid review was to explore research priorities identified by oncology nurses for cancer care delivery between 2019-2022. Methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis informed the design of the rapid review. MEDLINE, CINAHL, PUBMED, Web of Science, and Cochrane databases were searched for studies published between December 1st, 2018, and September 30th, 2022. This timeframe was chosen to account for the latest relevant evidence synthesis, as well as changes in cancer care necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Quality Assessment of Diverse Studies tool was used to appraise quality. Results: Four studies met the inclusion criteria. Many of the research priorities identified were influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. The top cancer nursing research priority identified was the role of technology in improving patient and caregiver symptoms and health outcomes. Other most prevalent research priorities were focused on symptom management, culturally sensitive palliative and psychosocial care, early/integrated palliative care, financial toxicity, modifiable risk factors related to social determinants of health, public and patient involvement in research, and oncology nurses’ well-being and scope of practice. Conclusion: The findings indicate a need to steer a strategic programme of cancer nursing research towards digitalisation in cancer care to meet the current needs of people living with cancer and their caregivers. However, cancer nurses’ burnout, staff shortages and disparities in specialist education will hinder the implementation of certain models of care.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Kotronoulas, Dr Greg
• Authors: Dowling, M., Efstathiou, N., Amanda, D., Cherith, S., Fernández-Ortega, P., Brochstedt Dieperink, K., Pape, E., Kotronoulas, G., Miguel, S., Colomer-Lahiguera, S., and Bağçivan, G.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing > Nursing and Health Care
• Journal Name: European Journal of Oncology Nursing
• Publisher: Elsevier
• ISSN: 1462-3889
• ISSN (Online): 1532-2122
• Published Online: 30 January 2023
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2023 The Authors
• First Published: First published in European Journal of Oncology Nursing 63:36827837
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons licence