Roles and practices of specialist lung cancer nurses: a scoping review protocol.

Abstract

The objective of this scoping review is to map the available literature on the specialist lung cancer nurse role. The international literature acknowledges the importance of specialist cancer nurses who provide supportive care to patients. Historically, however, there has been a lack of consistent evidence to inform development and implementation of the role. This review will consider quantitative and qualitative studies of any design or methodology that report on role characteristics or behaviors, practices or activities, or other aspects of the specialist lung cancer nurse role in the acute care setting. Systematic reviews, professional body reports, as well as unpublished or published studies and reports will also be considered for inclusion. Textual or opinion papers will be excluded. This review will follow JBI methodology for scoping reviews. Relevant papers from 2006 to 2022, in any language, will be searched for in the following databases and registries: MEDLINE (PubMed), CINAHL (EBSCO), Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials. Websites to be searched will include the World Health Organization, International Council of Nurses, and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses (ProQuest) and Grey Matters (CADTH) will be searched for unpublished literature. Results will be presented in tabular and narrative format and mapped according to the specified concepts of interest, as well as to the domains of practice for specialist nursing roles.