Nurse-led models of service delivery for skin cancer detection demonstrate potential for high diagnostic accuracy, effective treatment delivery and enhanced patient education on skin self-examination
Aim:
To consolidate evidence on nurse-led models for skin cancer detection by focusing on their roles, comparing their effectiveness to physician-led care and highlighting any value-added benefits.
Design:
Systematic review methodology with narrative synthesis.
Data Sources:
MEDLINE Complete, PubMed, Embase, CINAHL Complete, ScienceDirect, Scopus, BNI, LILACS, PsycINFO, Trip Medical Database, ERIC, EThOS, CDSR, WoS, Google Scholar, ClinicalTrials.gov, ICTRP, CENTRAL and the website ‘Getting It Right First Time’.
Methods:
This review adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses checklist. Studies between January 1992 and September 2024 were evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklists. The search encompassed both peer-reviewed and grey literature; however, no grey literature met the inclusion criteria.
Results:
Of the 6680 records screened, six studies met the inclusion criteria, involving 3325 patients across England, New Zealand and the United States. These studies focused on nurse-led models of care for skin cancer, assessing outcomes such as diagnostic accuracy, treatment effectiveness, cost savings, waiting times, access to care and patient satisfaction. While none directly compared nurse-led to dermatologist-led models, one study demonstrated comparable diagnostic accuracy between nurses and ophthalmologists. Nurse-led models were shown to effectively substitute for or complement physician-led care, though only one study was authored by a nurse consultant, highlighting a gap in nursing-led research. Service users favoured community-based, nurse-led care for its accessibility, convenience and cost-effectiveness, with health education noted as an added benefit in one study.
Conclusion:
Nurse-led models demonstrate potential for high diagnostic accuracy in skin cancer, effective treatment delivery and enhanced patient education on skin self-examination. While role delineation remains a challenge, nurses play a critical role in supporting dermatologists in addressing the increasing referral demands associated with skin cancer care.
Source:
Kattach, L., Singleton, H., Ersser, S., Holley, D., Pearson, I. and Shadeed, A. (2025), Nurse-Led Models of Service Delivery for Skin Cancer Detection: A Systematic Review. J Adv Nurs. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.16854