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Nurses’ involvement in end-of-life discussions with incurable cancer patients and family caregivers: An integrative review

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 May 2021

T. Ikander Open the ORCID record for T. Ikander [Opens in a new window] ,
M. Raunkiær ,
O. Hansen  and
K.B. Dieperink
T. Ikander*
Affiliation:
Department of Oncology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark REHPA, Danish Knowledge Centre of Rehabilitation and Palliative Care, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark Family Focused Healthcare Research Centre (FaCe), Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark Open Patient data Explorative Network, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
M. Raunkiær
Affiliation:
REHPA, Danish Knowledge Centre of Rehabilitation and Palliative Care, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
O. Hansen
Affiliation:
Department of Oncology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
K.B. Dieperink
Affiliation:
Department of Oncology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark Family Focused Healthcare Research Centre (FaCe), Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
*
Author for correspondence: Tine Ikander, Department of Oncology, Odense University Hospital, J.B. Winsløws Vej 4, 5000 Odense, Denmark. E-mail: tine.moller.ikander@rsyd.dk
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Abstract

Aim

To review current evidence of nurses’ involvement in end-of-life discussions with incurable cancer patients and their family caregivers.

Design

We conducted a systematic integrative review in accordance with PRISMA guidelines: PROSPERO, registration number: CRD42020186204.

Data sources

CINAHL, Medline, PsycInfo, Embase. We searched for primary research between 2010 and 2020.

Results

Of 3,271 references, we found 15 eligible articles: qualitative (n = 12) and quantitative (n = 3). The studies focused on oncology nurses' perspective of involvement in end-of-life discussions. The data analysis resulted in four overall themes: (1) Nursing roles; the advocating, supporting, and reframing roles, and an undefined task, for example in medical consultations, (2) Trust building, (3) Nurse competences, and (4) Medical issues.

Significance of results

The nurses have several roles in end-of-life discussions, but insufficient competencies to be involved in that kind of discussions, for example to involve and communicate with families. The findings implicate an educational need among the nurses. However, it also points toward an organizational change in the outpatient clinics, for example that end-of-life discussions follow a more structured approach, are offered in a scheduled manner, and that nurses invite the family caregivers to attend.

Keywords

Advanced cancerEnd-of-life discussionsOncology nursesPalliative care
Type
Review Article
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 20 , Issue 4 , August 2022 , pp. 570 - 581
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Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press

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