Nurse-Led Interventions to Reduce Complications Associated with Chronic Diseases

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic diseases are an ever-increasing burden on global healthcare systems, challenging the capacity of healthcare providers to deliver effective, affordable, and patient-centered care. The aim of the review is to assess the effectiveness of nurse-led interventions in managing chronic diseases and preventing complications.

Methods: In our systematic review, we assessed nurse-led interventions' efficacy in reducing complications linked to chronic diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, and cancer. We incorporated randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and non-randomized controlled trials (NRCTs) involving adult participants. Nurse-led interventions encompassed activities such as patient education, lifestyle counseling, medication management, and care coordination, with primary outcomes focusing on complications and secondary outcomes on disease-related quality of life, patient satisfaction, and healthcare costs. Our comprehensive search across various databases, including PubMed and EMBASE, utilized specific keywords and controlled vocabulary. Two independent reviewers screened studies, resolved discrepancies, and performed data extraction.

Results: The systematic search process initially identified 1,352 articles from electronic databases, eventually narrowing down to 988 unique articles after the removal of duplicates. Of these, 62 articles were selected for full-text review, resulting in the inclusion of six studies that met the criteria. These studies covered a range of chronic diseases, with two focusing on diabetes, two on cardiovascular disease, one on chronic respiratory diseases, and one on cancer. Four of the studies reported statistically significant reductions in complications with nurse-led interventions, while two did not find significant differences. Additionally, the nurse-led groups generally demonstrated better disease-related quality of life, higher patient satisfaction, and reduced healthcare costs.

Conclusions: Nurse-led interventions demonstrate promise in reducing complications associated with chronic diseases, with a 67% success rate in achieving significant reductions. The majority of the included studies reported significant reductions in complications, accompanied by improved patient satisfaction, quality of life, and cost-efficiency.