Breast cancer nursing interventions and clinical effectiveness: A systematic review

Raymond Javan Chan*, Laisa Teleni, Suzanne McDonald, Jaimon Kelly, Jane Mahony, Kerryn Ernst, Kerry Patford, James Townsend, Manisha Singh, Patsy Yates

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articleResearchpeer-review

30 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objectives 

To examine the effects of nurse-led interventions on the health-related quality of life, symptom burden and self-management/behavioural outcomes in women with breast cancer. Methods Cochrane Controlled Register of Trials (CENTRAL), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Medline and Embase databases were searched (January 1999 to May 2019) to identify randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and controlled before-and-after studies of interventions delivered by nurses with oncology experience for women with breast cancer. Risk of bias was evaluated using the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for randomised trials. Intervention effects were synthesised by cancer trajectory using The Omaha System Intervention Classification Scheme. 

Results 

Thirty-one RCTs (4651 participants) were included. All studies were at risk of bias mainly due to inherent limitations such as lack of blinding and self-report data. Most studies (71%; n=22) reported at least one superior intervention effect. There were no differences in all outcomes between those who receive nurse-led surveillance care versus those who received physical led or usual discharge care. Compared with control interventions, there were superior teaching, guidance and counselling (63%) and case management (100%) intervention effects on symptom burden during treatment and survivorship. Effects of these interventions on health-related quality of life and symptom self-management/behavioural outcomes were inconsistent. 

Discussion 

There is consistent evidence from RCTs that nurse-led surveillance interventions are as safe and effective as physician-led care and strong evidence that nurse-led teaching, guidance and counselling and case management interventions are effective for symptom management. Future studies should ensure the incorporation of health-related quality of life and self-management/behavioural outcomes and consider well-designed attentional placebo controls to blind participants for self-report outcomes. 

Protocol registration The International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO): CRD42020134914).

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)276-286
Number of pages11
JournalBMJ Supportive and Palliative Care
Volume10
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Sept 2020
Externally publishedYes

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