Improving palliative care for patients with advanced cancer: a systematic review of evidence on the role and outcomes of clinical nurse specialists and related complex interventions

Project Duration

May 2015 to January 2016

Funder

Marie Curie Care

Aims

This systematic review aims to examine how clinical nurse specialist (CNS) services can be optimally organized to improve symptom relief and the experience of palliative care quality and continuity across hospital and community care for patients diagnosed with advanced cancer. The review has three elements, which will be synthesised at the reporting stage.

Methods

1. A systematic review of evidence on the costs and cost effectiveness of CNS roles, by identifying any studies that examine the cost or resource use implications of CNS services, relative to some type of comparator.
2. A critical review of published international research over the last ten years on the clinical nurse specialist role and outcomes in palliative care.
3. A review of published international evidence from the last ten years of the impact of complex interventions on continuity of care and other outcomes for patients with advanced cancer.   

Stages of Development/Outcomes/Findings 

The search strategy for the systematic review has been developed and the search conducted. The process of sifting the results continues. The search strategy for the critical review is under development.