Experiences of remote nurse consultations in chronic disease management: A systematic review

Remote nurse consultations are transforming care by combining tailored support with practical convenience but require nurses to adapt in-person focused clinical skills. Many consultations are now driven by patient-initiated follow-up, enabling patients to take greater control over their care. This systematic review explores the experiences of remote consultations for patients across chronic diseases, alongside those of the registered nurses delivering this care. Analysing themes across participant experiences will identify areas where patient and nurse needs align, as well as their impact on nursing labour.

The purpose of this review was to systematically and critically appraise the current literature to examine the experiences of those living with chronic disease and registered nurses in remote consultations.

A systematic review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses was conducted. A comprehensive search was conducted across CINAHL, British Nursing Database, PubMed, and Web of Science from September to October 2023 and updated in October 2024. Inclusion criteria were any primary qualitative studies, in peer-reviewed journals published in English, which focused on real-time video or telephone nurse consultations for chronic disease management.

A total of 31 studies were included in the review, identifying three overarching concepts common to both patient and nurse experiences. Nurse-Associated Requirements outlines key prerequisites for effective remote care, where recognising the person beyond their disease enables long-term relationships and tailored care. Interaction Factors reflects the communication dynamics, where meaningful conversations and tangible nursing care can effectively bridge the lack of co-location. Anxiety Dynamics captures the emotional impact of remote consultations, with patients perceiving them as a lifeline offering greater control, while nurses fear missing critical clinical cues, with little control over patient demand. Remote consultations deliver greater frequency of patient contact, requiring nurses to become relationship managers navigating a distinct and previously unrecognised labour cycle.

Remote nurse consultations improve patient access and self-management while strengthening continuity of care and relational trust. However, they also place significant demands on nurses, requiring advanced communication skills, emotional resilience, and adaptability. Addressing these challenges requires a systemic approach, integrating comprehensive training, peer support, and hybrid care models to balance in-person and virtual interactions. These findings highlight the evolving role of nurses in remote care delivery and provide actionable insights for healthcare systems to support both clinicians and patients in this transformative model of care.