The impact of nurse prescribing on health care delivery for patients with diabetes: a rapid review

Abstract

Introduction The global prevalence of diabetes is a pressing public health concern. Over 400 million individuals live with the effects of the disease, predominantly in low- and middle-income countries. In Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ), over 300 000 people have diabetes, resulting in a population rate of 43.1 per 1000. Enabling nurses to prescribe diabetes medications enhances accessibility and improves health outcomes for large sections of the population. Aim This rapid review was undertaken to investigate the influence of nurse prescribing on health care delivery for individuals with diabetes in NZ, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada, countries sharing comparable health care systems and multicultural backgrounds. Methods The review protocol was published on PROSPERO. In November 2022, a search was conducted across multiple databases to locate relevant literature and resources constrained to the last decade (from January 2012 to November 2022). Utilising the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses framework, data extraction was systematically structured, while rigorous appraisal processes upheld selection quality. Results Fifteen publications were identified as meeting predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The review of these articles revealed four main themes: the impact of nurse prescribing on clinical outcomes, levels of patient satisfaction, implications for health care service provisions, and identification of barriers and facilitators associated with nurse prescribing. Discussion This report identifies outcomes of nurse prescribing, concluding it provides a potential avenue for enhancing access to and alleviating the burden on health care systems.