Elevating Elderly Cancer Care: A Systematic Review of Advanced Practice Nursing’s Role in Senior Oncology Patients’ Quality of Life

Abstract

Background. According to projections based on current trends, it can be anticipated that from 2024 onward, approximately 70% of all cancer cases will be diagnosed in individuals 65 years and older. Given this complex intersection between population ageing and cancer incidence, it is of great importance to address this issue from a comprehensive care perspective. Here comes the importance of advanced practice nurse into play. However, this figure is still not sufficiently valued in many countries. Its roles are also not clearly defined at the international level. For this reason, a systematic review of the scientific literature was carried out to analyze the impact of advanced practice nurse on the quality of life of older adults with cancer. Methods. Searches were carried out in PubMed, Web of Science (WoS), Scopus, CINAHL, LILACS, and ScienceDirect databases. They were limited to studies conducted in the last 7 years. Only open-access articles were selected. To analyze the chosen articles and assess their quality, the criteria of the PRISMA and CASPe statements were applied. All authors participated in both the selection of the articles and their analysis. Results. Of the initial 58 articles selected, a total of 10 articles were finally included, as they met the eligibility criteria established after further analysis. The results show a positive relationship between the advanced practice nurse intervention and quality of life in older adults with cancer. Conclusions. Advanced practice nurse (APN) plays a key role in the care of older adults with cancer, significantly improving their quality of life and contributing to the comprehensive care of these patients. The findings evidenced in this work support the integration of APNs in cancer care teams to improve patient experience and overall well-being.