Document Type : Review article
Authors
1
Medical Education Research Center, Health Management and Safety Promotion Research Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran;
2
Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran;
3
Social Determinants of Health Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran;
4
Artificial Intelligence in Medical Sciences Research Center, Smart University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran;
5
French Institute of Research and High Education (IFRES-INT), Paris, France
10.30476/ijcbnm.2026.103905.2590
Abstract
Background: To effectively deliver palliative care within community settings, nurses must possess
adequate competencies. Regarding the few review studies in this field, the present study aimed to
explore the necessary qualifications required for nurses providing home-based palliative care to
patients with incurable diseases.
Methods: This scoping review was performed during 2024 based on the Cochrane methodology
using the methodological framework of Arksey and O’Malley in six steps. A comprehensive literature
review was conducted on databases of Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed/Medline, EBSCO, as well as
Cochran library. Articles published in English between 1990 and 2024 were screened, and the textual
narrative synthesis was used for data analysis.
Results: The extracted data were organized into three main competencies including knowledge
(knowledge of the philosophy of palliative care, familiarity with incurable diseases, and awareness
of the structure of the healthcare system), attitude (interprofessional and intersectoral cooperation,
cultural competence, and adherence to ethical principles), and skills (physical care, psychological care,
spiritual care, social support, medication administration, care of dying patients, and communication
skills).
Conclusion: Community health nurses must possess sufficient knowledge, appropriate attitudes, and
essential clinical competencies to deliver effective community‑based palliative care for patients with
life‑limiting illnesses. The necessary competencies to provide home-based palliative care should be
integrated into the nursing education program.
Keywords
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