Twenty Years of Nurse-Led Research in Hemato-Oncology: A Mapping Review

Objectives: Nurse-led research in hemato-oncology is diverse, but its nature and extent are unknown. This review aimed to identify and map nurse-led research in hemato-oncology over 20 years (2004-2024) to highlight under-researched gaps, describe methodological and topic trends, and allow comparison between geographical regions. Methods: A mapping review was undertaken following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, Scoping Review (PRISMA-ScR) checklist. Five databases were systematically searched: Medline (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), Embase (Elsevier), ProQuest, and Scopus (Elsevier). Independent screening and data extraction were undertaken on the web-based platform Covidence. Results: A total of 1,916 sources were included (n = 1,618 journal publications; n = 262 published conference abstracts; n = 36 doctoral dissertations). The most common methodology was non-experimental (60.5%), followed by qualitative (19.2%), experimental (12.5%), evidence syntheses (6.3%), and mixed methods (1.5%). Most of the studies were undertaken by nurses working in the USA, followed by nurses in China, Türkiye, Canada, Australia and Iran. Studies in pediatric, adolescent, and young adult settings represented 42.4% of the included studies. A high number of studies undertaken in hematopoietic stem cell transplant settings were found. Conclusions: The number of research studies led by nurses in hemato-oncology settings, particularly in the USA, is upward. Most of the research undertaken has adopted a descriptive quantitative methodology. More interventional research is needed to contribute meaningfully to scientific knowledge that enhances the quality of care for individuals affected by blood cancer across the disease trajectory. Implications for Nursing Practice: To support more nurse-led interventional research, strategic investment in mentorship, protected research time, interdisciplinary collaboration, structured clinical-academic posts, and funding pathways is needed.