Key result
A scoping review of 86 studies found that nurse-led perioperative RCTs primarily focus on anxiety, pain relief, and infection prevention, with gaps in vulnerable populations and poor reporting.
Why the study?
The scope of nurse-led randomized controlled trials conducted within the perioperative setting was unknown.
What is the scope of nurse-led randomized controlled trials conducted within the perioperative setting?
Systematic Review (n=86)
What is the scope of nurse-led randomized controlled trials conducted within the perioperative setting?
Nurse-led RCTs in the perioperative setting focus on key areas like anxiety, pain, and infection prevention, but gaps exist in vulnerable populations such as older adults.
Supports expansion of nurse-led perioperative RCTs in established domains; leaves open critical questions for vulnerable populations amid reporting deficiencies.
PURPOSE: Nurses provide care at each phase of the complex, perioperative pathway and are well placed to identify areas of care requiring investigation in randomized controlled trials. Yet, currently, the scope of nurse-led randomized controlled trials conducted within the perioperative setting are unknown. This scoping review aims to identify areas of perioperative care in which nurse-led randomized controlled trials have been conducted, to identify issues impacting upon the quality of these trials and identify gaps for future investigation. METHODS: This scoping review was conducted in reference to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Embase, Cumulative Index for Nursing and Allied Health Literature and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, with a date range of 2014-19. Sources of unpublished literature included Open Grey, and ProQuest Dissertation and Theses, Clinical Trials.gov and the Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry. After title and abstract checking, full-text retrieval and data extraction, studies were appraised using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklists for randomized controlled trials. Data were synthesized according to the main objectives. Key information was tabulated. RESULTS: From the 86 included studies, key areas where nurses have led randomized controlled trials include patient or caregiver anxiety; postoperative pain relief; surgical site infection prevention: patient and caregiver knowledge; perioperative hypothermia prevention; postoperative nausea and vomiting; in addition to other diverse outcomes. Issues impacting upon quality (including poorly reported randomization), and gaps for future investigation (including a focus on vulnerable populations), are evident. CONCLUSION: Nurse-led randomized controlled trials in the perioperative setting have focused on key areas of perioperative care. Yet, opportunities exist for nurses to lead experimental research in other perioperative priority areas and within different populations that have been neglected, such as in the population of older adults undergoing surgery.
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Munday et al. (2020) conducted a systematic review in Perioperative care (n=86). Nurse-led randomized controlled trials was evaluated on Areas of perioperative care, quality issues, and future gaps. A scoping review of 86 studies found that nurse-led perioperative RCTs primarily focus on anxiety, pain relief, and infection prevention, with gaps in vulnerable populations and poor reporting.
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