Insight into Health Promotion Nursing Intervention for Breast Cancer Survivors in Primary Care: Results from a Scoping Review

Context: Due to advancements in detection and treatment, the number of breast cancer survivors (BCSs) has significantly risen. However, these survivors often encounter unmet needs and feelings of insecurity due to the lack of regular healthcare professional support. Post-treatment can be viewed as a teachable moment to improve the health of BCSs. Nurses in primary care, with knowledge of patients’ global needs and challenges, are well-positioned to contribute to BCSs’ health improvement. However, primary care nurses’ support in enhancing BCSs’ health is not formally recognized due to limited knowledge of relevant practices and recommendations in this area.

Objective: To map health promotion nursing interventions for female BCSs in order to enhance nurses’ knowledge of these interventions.

Study Design and Analysis: Based on the Joanna Briggs Institute methodological framework, a scoping review was done. The search strategy included: “Health Promotion”, “Nursing”, “Breast Tumors”, “Primary care” or “Survivors”. Two reviewers independently screened the abstract, title, and full text of identified evidence for inclusion in the review and extracted the data using a predetermined extraction table.

Dataset: PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Embase, and Web of Science electronic databases searched.

Population: Women who have completed breast cancer treatment (e.g., chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation).

Intervention: Health promotion interventions delivered by nurses.

Outcome measures: This review describes the characteristics (e.g., targeted determinants of health and materials utilized) and approaches (e.g., educational or community empowerment) that nurses have employed to improve the health of BCS.

Results: The review revealed that many studies were conducted in specialized care centers. Nurses predominantly used educational approaches to promote BCSs’ health. They employed various digital tools to provide health education, assess survivors’ needs, and support them in monitoring their health behaviours.

Conclusions: We highlighted the significant role that nurses can play in improving BCSs’ health in primary care. The gap in research regarding the nursing health promotion program for BCSs in primary care settings is identified. Future research should focus on the social determinants of health and holistic well-being of BCSs.