Is nurse-led case management effective in improving treatment outcomes for cancer patients? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Aims: To identify and synthesize the outcomes of nurse-led case management interventions for improving cancer treatment. Design: Systematic review with meta-analysis. Data sources: PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and CEPS were searched for articles published from inception till June 2019, and search was finalized in January 2020. Review Methods: The review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement guidelines. The quality of evidence was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tools. Outcomes were analysed by using a pool of data of 95% confidence intervals (CIs), p value and fitting model based on heterogeneity of test results. Results: Eleven articles were included in the meta-analysis. When compared with the regular care group, the nurse-led case management group had: 1) shorter time from diagnosis to treatment by 9.07 days, 2) an improved treatment completion rates (OR = 2.45) and 3) more number of patients received hormone therapy. Conclusion: The synthesized results presented that nurse-led case management is more effective than regular care in improving treatment timeliness, treatment completion rates and hormone therapy rates.