Facilitators and Barriers to Prognostic Communication among Oncology Nurses in Low and Middle-Income Countries: A Scoping Review

Objective: This scoping review aimed to identify the barriers and facilitators of prognostic communication experienced by oncology nurses in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods: A scoping review was conducted using Arksey and O’Malley’s framework. Searches of MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, CINAHL, and ScienceDirect (2015-2025), plus grey literature, identified empirical studies focusing on oncology nurses’ prognostic communication in LMICs. Two reviewers independently screened the articles and charted the data. The findings were synthesized thematically using line-by-line coding (Registered in PROSPERO: CRD420251239353). Results: From 1,784 records, nine studies met the inclusion criteria, most were qualitative (6), and the others were a mixed methods (1) and quantitative cross-sectional (2) studies. The review identified and classified barriers and facilitators to prognostic communication into three categories: (1) health system and environmental factors, (2) nurse-related factors, and (3) patient and family-related factors. The facilitators were also summarized into three categories of health system/environment, nurse, and patient and family facilitators. Conclusion: Multiple barriers and facilitators influence prognostic communication among oncology nurses in LMICs. However, some of the health system/environmental and nurse-related factors are amenable to improvement using nurse-led interventions designed to strengthen nurses’ competencies in prognostic communication. Implications for Nursing Practice:: Strengthening oncology nurses’ prognostic communication competencies is essential because it ensures patient-centered care, patient safety, and ethical safeguards. Thus, providing training in prognostic communication enhances clinical expertise and effectiveness, and may promote safer, more effective oncology nursing care.