Nurses' Roles and Challenges in Interprofessional Home-Based Palliative Care: A Systematic Review of Qualitative Studies.

Home-based palliative care (HBPC) aims to enhance patients' quality of life through holistic and sustainable approach, with nurses acting as key coordinators in interprofessional collaboration. However, their specific roles and the challenges they face remain underexplored. This systematic review aimed to map the role of nurses in interprofessional collaboration in HBPC and identify associated challenges. The review addressed two research questions: "What is the role of nurses in interprofessional collaboration in HBHC?" and "What challenges do nurses face in fulfilling their collaborative roles?". Literature searches were conducted in January 2025 using Scopus, PubMed, ScienceDirect, Wiley, and Sage databases. Inclusion criteria were original qualitative studies published in the past 10 years that specifically focused on the role of nurses in interprofessional collaboration within palliative care settings, including home-based palliative care, palliative home care, and hospice services. The review followed PRISMA guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251011837). Study quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute criteria, and a thematic synthesis was conducted. From 3175 records, 12 articles met the inclusion criteria, involving 447 participants. The roles of nurses identified in HBPC included holistic symptom management, psychosocial and spiritual support, patient and family education, and coordination of healthcare teams. Challenges encountered included poor team coordination, limited organizational support, lack of adequate training, and technological barriers. Nurses are essential to effective interprofessional collaboration in HBPC. Addressing the challenges they face requires capacity-building strategies, enhanced organizational support, and improved use of technology to strengthen service deliver.