Pediatric Oncology Nursing Competencies in Latin America and the Caribbean: A Scoping Review to Inform Practice, Education, and Research.

BACKGROUND

Nurses are central to cancer care for children and adolescents, yet no comprehensive synthesis has defined essential core competencies for pediatric oncology nursing (PON) practice internationally, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). This scoping review mapped and synthesized evidence on PON competencies relevant to clinical practice, education, and research in LAC settings.

METHODS

Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses-extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) and Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidance, we searched Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE)/PubMed, Cochrane Library, Excerpta Medica Database (EMBASE), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Web of Science, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences Literature (LILACS), and additional sources, including ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global, British Library, Google Scholar, medRxiv, ClinicalTrials.gov, and the World Health Organization (WHO)-International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (ICTRP), from inception to December 31, 2023, without language restrictions. Two independent reviewers performed study selection, data extraction, and synthesis.

RESULTS

A total of 50 studies published between 1987 and 2021 were included. Most were quantitative or expert opinion (n = 46), with 21 (42%) addressing clinical practice, 16 (32%) education, and 13 (26%) research. Methodological quality was moderate to high according to JBI appraisal tools. Across studies, 28 core competencies were identified and grouped into six domains: clinical and supportive care (n = 16; 57.1%), education and research (n = 4; 14.3%), leadership and professional development (n = 3; 10.7%), engagement, advocacy and promotion (n = 2; 7.1%), interprofessional collaboration across the cancer care journey (n = 2; 7.1%), and health policy and service development (n = 1; 3.6%).

CONCLUSIONS

This review synthesizes PON competencies relevant to LAC. Mapping these competencies identifies priorities for workforce development, education, and research and may support efforts to strengthen PON capacity and improve the quality of childhood cancer care across diverse health systems.