The Evolution of Worldwide Nurse-Led Cancer Research in the Last 2 Decades (2004-2022)

Background Research led by nurses has evolved rapidly over the last 2 decades globally. Assessing the work that has been conducted so far can help the specialty to strategically shape future directions of nurse-led cancer research. Objective The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive, up-to-date synthesis of all nurse-led cancer research published articles over 20 years. Methods A bibliometric analysis was used. Three databases were used to retrieve nurse-led cancer research publications for the period from January 1, 2004, to March 11, 2022. Results A total of 7043 original articles were retrieved. A significant increase in nurse-led cancer research over the past 2 decades was evident. The United States and United Kingdom were the most productive countries in terms of the number of published articles. Minimal international collaboration was observed among low- or middle-income countries versus high-income countries. Breast cancer, palliative care, and quality of life received the most attention in nurse-led cancer research, followed by education, pain, and communication. Very few publications addressed cancer prevention, breaking bad news, and cancer rehabilitation. Conclusion Areas to consider in the future include more international collaborations on commonly agreed research agendas, capacity building to allow more research beyond the few countries that dominate the publications, and more focus on low- or middle-income countries. Implications for Practice The findings of this study provide direction for future research led by cancer nurses and the areas that warrant further investigation.