Implementation Strategies to Support Evidence-Informed Symptom Management Among Outpatient Oncology Nurses: A Scoping Review Protocol

Abstract

Introduction: Despite the availability of clinical practice guidelines for cancer symptom management, cancer care providers do not consistently utilize them in practice. Oncology nurses in outpatient settings are well-positioned to use established guidelines to inform symptom assessment and management; however, issues concerning inconsistent implementation persist. This scoping review aims to identify and describe the components of implementation strategies that have been used to enhance the adoption, implementation, and sustainability of symptom management guidelines among specialized and advanced oncology nurses in cancer-specific outpatient settings. Factors influencing guideline implementation will also be identified. Methods and analysis: This scoping review will follow Joanna Briggs Institute methodology. Electronic databases CINAHL, Embase, Emcare, MEDLINE(R), and grey literature sources will be searched for studies published in English since the year 2000. Primary studies and grey literature reports of any design that include specialized or advanced oncology nurses practicing in cancer-specific outpatient settings will be eligible. Sources describing implementation strategies to enhance the adoption, implementation, and sustainability of cancer symptom management guidelines and/or factors influencing implementation will be included. Two reviewers will independently screen for eligibility and extract data. Data extraction will be guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Data will be analyzed descriptively and synthesized according to CFIR constructs. Results will be presented through tabular/diagrammatic formats and narrative summary. Ethics and dissemination: Ethics approval is not required for this scoping review. Planned knowledge translation activities include a national conference presentation, peer-reviewed publication, academic social media channels, and dissemination within local oncology nursing and patient networks.