PALLIATIVE nursing interventions improved quality of life and reduced distress and symptom burden in older adults with cancer.
Palliative Nursing Interventions Improved Quality of Life
A structured 6-week integrated palliative nursing program delivered meaningful improvements across physical, psychological, social, functional, and spiritual domains for older adults receiving oncology care, according to a quasi-experimental study of 80 patients aged 60 years and older with confirmed cancer diagnoses. The intervention included 12 sessions, delivered twice weekly, and was designed to embed palliative nursing interventions within routine cancer care rather than reserve them for end-of-life settings.
All participants completed the study, with no attrition during the intervention period. Quality of life, assessed using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General, rose substantially after the intervention, with total scores increasing from 39.65 ± 5.51 at baseline to 66.41 ± 6.25 after completion. Improvements were also reported across all quality-of-life subscales.
Symptom Burden and Psychological Distress Declined
The benefits extended beyond quality of life. Psychological distress, measured using the NCCN Distress Thermometer, fell from 21.93 ± 2.49 to 6.99 ± 2.37. Total symptom burden, assessed with the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System, declined from 63.56 ± 6.31 to 41.09 ± 6.88. All primary outcome changes were statistically significant.
These findings highlight the clinical value of multidimensional oncology nursing support for older adults with cancer, a population often affected by frailty, multimorbidity, treatment toxicity, emotional vulnerability, and functional decline. By addressing symptom burden and psychological distress alongside physical and spiritual needs, integrated palliative nursing interventions may help clinicians deliver more patient-centered cancer care.
Baseline Status Predicted Intervention Response
Regression analysis showed that baseline status strongly predicted outcomes after the intervention. Pre-intervention quality-of-life scores and cancer type predicted post-intervention quality of life, while baseline distress and symptom burden predicted post-intervention distress and symptom outcomes, respectively. Demographic and clinical variables had limited impact.
For oncology teams and general healthcare clinicians, the findings support earlier, structured integration of palliative nursing interventions into routine cancer care for older adults. While the one-group design limits causal interpretation, the results point to a practical, nurse-led model that may improve comfort, dignity, emotional stability, and quality of life in aging oncology populations.
Reference
Ibrahim AM et al. Integrated palliative nursing interventions for older adults with cancer: Effects on quality of life, psychological outcomes, and symptom burden. Palliat Support Care. 2026;24:e134.
Featured Image: ARMMY PICCA on Adobe Stock.
