Nurse-Led Medication Management for Older People in Home Care: A Systematic Review of Evolving Nurse Responsibilities in Technology-assisted Care

Abstract

Technology-assisted care is transforming the home care landscape for older people requiring medication management. With evolving roles and responsibilities, nurse-led interventions are shaping the future of nursing practice in home care. This review aimed to identify and describe nurse-led roles in medication management in home care for older people within the context of technology-assisted care. A systematic review employing an integrative approach was conducted on the PubMed (covering MEDLINE), Scopus, CINAHL, ProQuest, and Embase, targeting studies published in English over the past decade, from 2014 to 2024. The initial database search identified 1629 studies, which were subsequently narrowed down to 20 studies selected for data analysis and narrative research synthesis. The review findings were classified into 3 categories: “fundamental principles,” “nurses and their role identities,” and “enhanced care quality and medication safety.” Given the effectiveness of nurses as leaders in technology-assisted home care for enhancing medication management safety, it is essential to implement policies that support and improve their involvement in multidisciplinary healthcare teams. Additionally, continuous education and training focused on technology-assisted care competencies are necessary to ensure nurses are well-prepared to enhance patient safety in home care.