Palliative care nursing research trends from 1987 to 1996

Nursing research in palliative care is becoming ever more important as cost-effectiveness and evidence-based practice become mandatory in the workplace. A search of Cinahl and Medline databases and the content pages of the International Journal of Palliative Nursing, Palliative Medicine and the Journal of Palliative Care provided 180 articles relating to nursing research in palliative care over the past decade. On reviewing the abstracts emerging trends show that nurses are becoming more focused on service delivery and there is evidence of their participation in particular aspects of patient and family care. In particular they are conducting more quantitative research on patient outcomes especially in areas where nurses can have an effect on care outcomes, e.g. complementary therapies, psychosocial support and non-pharmaceutical symptom control. These trends must continue in order to cement the nurse’s place in palliative care.