Effectiveness of Advanced Practice Nursing Interventions on Diabetic Patients: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus is a complex chronic condition requiring continuous healthcare. Consequently, various organisations recommend therapeutic education to enhance treatment adherence. This is often facilitated by Advanced Practice Nurses, who provide a range of advanced interventions that impact clinical health outcomes and deliver healthcare services to these patients. Objective: To analyse the effectiveness of interventions performed by Advanced Practice Nurses in patients with diabetes. Method: A peer-reviewed systematic review was conducted and registered in PROSPERO. The databases consulted included PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL. Inclusion criteria comprised studies published between 2014 and 2024 on the effectiveness of interventions by Advanced Practice Nurses in diabetic patients. The review included qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods designs. Various screenings were carried out, including the assessment of methodological quality. Results: A total of 600 studies were identified, of which 17 were selected for final review. Among these, 12 studies focused on diabetic education. Interventions were predominantly delivered in person in primary care settings, private clinics, and hospitals. Reported outcomes included reductions in HbA1c levels, improved patient self-knowledge and self-efficacy, and decreased rates of readmission and mortality. Conclusions: The sample consisted predominantly of women over 60 years of age. Diabetic education emerged as the most common intervention, primarily delivered in person by Advanced Practice Nurses across diverse settings. Nearly all interventions proved effective in improving health outcomes for diabetic patients.

Keywords: advanced practice nursing; clinical nurses; diabetes mellitus; nurse practitioners; nurses; practice patterns.

Figure 1

PRISMA flow diagram of study.