Nurses’ experiences of delivering palliative care in Asia: a qualitative systematic review
Agung Subakti Nuzulullail, Halfie Zaqiyah Gusti Puspitasari, Dwina Oktavia Deli, Dana Prayoga Irawan, Yunie Armiyati, Firman SugihartoBackground:
The demand for palliative care is increasing, particularly in Asia, where population ageing, chronic disease and socio-cultural diversity shape service delivery. Despite nurses’ central role, evidence on their experiences remains limited.
Aims:
To synthesise qualitative evidence on nurses’ experiences in delivering palliative care across Asian countries.
Methods:
A qualitative systematic review was conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Searches were performed in CINAHL, MEDLINE, SAGE Journals, Scopus, Science Direct and SpringerLink for studies published between 2015 and 2025. Study quality was appraised using the Joanna Briggs Institute checklist, and data were analysed using inductive thematic synthesis.
Results:
Four overarching themes were identified: (1) cultural and spiritual framing of palliative care; (2) family-centred negotiation of comfort, dignity and communication; (3) emotional labour, meaning-making and resilience and (4) structural and professional conditions shaping care. Nurses’ experiences reflected the interaction of culturally embedded beliefs, family involvement in decision-making, sustained emotional demands and organisational constraints within healthcare systems.
Conclusion:
Palliative care in Asia is culturally embedded. Strengthening nurses’ competencies and health system support is essential to improve quality and sustainability.