Effectiveness of Nurse-Led Palliative Care Interventions on Patient Quality of Life: A Systematic Review.

INTRODUCTION

Palliative care aims to enhance the quality of life (QoL) of individuals with serious or life-limiting illnesses through holistic physical, psychological, and social support. Nurses play a central role in delivering palliative care; however, the specific contribution of nurse-led interventions to improving patient outcomes remains insufficiently clarified in the literature.

AIM: This systematic review aimed to examine the effectiveness of nurse-led palliative care interventions in improving patient-reported quality of life among adults with advanced or life-limiting illnesses.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Six electronic databases were searched to identify empirical studies published between 2020 and 2025 that evaluated nurse-led palliative care interventions. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials, quasi-experimental studies, and cohort designs that reported patient-reported QoL outcomes. Study selection and data extraction were performed independently by two reviewers. Due to heterogeneity in study designs, intervention characteristics, and outcome measures, the findings were synthesized using a narrative approach.

RESULTS

Twenty studies met the inclusion criteria and represented diverse health-system contexts and clinical settings. Overall, nurse-led interventions demonstrated positive trends in several QoL domains. Improvements were frequently reported in symptom management, emotional well-being, communication quality, and family engagement. Multi-component and sustained interventions showed more consistent benefits, particularly in community and home-based care settings. Some studies also indicated reductions in healthcare utilization and improved patient-family communication.

CONCLUSION

Nurse-led palliative care interventions may enhance patient-centered outcomes when implemented as comprehensive and contextually integrated care models. Further research is needed to standardize intervention definitions, evaluate long-term effectiveness, and expand evidence beyond oncology populations.