Advanced Practice Nurses' Roles and Responsibilities in Advance Care Planning for Older Persons—A Mixed Methods Systematic Review

ABSTRACT

Aim

To systematically identify, evaluate and synthesise the research literature about (a) the roles and responsibilities of advanced practice nurses (APNs) in the context of advance care planning (ACP) for older persons, (b) the characteristics of APNs' ACP practices and (c) the facilitators and barriers influencing APNs' involvement in ACP.

Design

Mixed-methods systematic review.

Methods

Followed the mixed methods systematic review guidelines outlined by the Joanna Briggs Institute. Three researchers independently screened studies for eligibility using the Covidence Screening Application. The screening involved two stages: titles and abstracts, followed by full-text evaluation. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used for quality assessment. A convergent integrated synthesis combined quantitative and qualitative data by ‘qualitising’ quantitative findings into text, enabling integration and thematic analysis to synthesise the results.

Data Sources

Medline, CINAHL and Embase were searched from 2012 to 2024 for original research in English, focusing on APNs involved in ACP for individuals aged 65 or older, using qualitative, quantitative or mixed method designs.

Results

The review included 19 studies: seven qualitative, nine quantitative and three mixed method designs. Thematic analysis revealed that APNs play a key role in ACP, aligning care with patient preferences through discussions and documentation. Studies from the United States (12), United Kingdom (4), Canada (2) and Australia (1) show varying APN roles and responsibilities.

Conclusion

APNs are crucial to ACP, but barriers limit their impact. Overcoming these is key to improving outcomes.

Implications for the Profession and Patient Care

APNs clinical expertise and close patient relationships are crucial for aligning care with patient preferences and needs in ACP. However, to fully maximise their contribution, it is essential to overcome barriers such as time constraints, lack of role recognition and insufficient training. Addressing these challenges will enhance the effectiveness of APNs in providing person-centred care.

Reporting Method

This review adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution.