Table 1.
Characteristics of the studies
| All studies | Number of studies (n = 57) |
| Country economies | |
| Low-income and lower-middle-income | 1 (1.8%) |
| Upper-middle-income | 1 (1.8%) |
| High-income | 55 (96.4%) |
| Study quality | |
| Low | 8 (14.0%) |
| Medium | 19 (33.3%) |
| High | 30 (52.6%) |
| Key and vulnerable populations controlled for or studied * | |
| Rural | 15 (26.3%) |
| Lower-income | 9 (15.8%) |
| Marginalised racial or ethnic groups | 9 (15.8%) |
| Component examined * | |
| Early intervention | 6 (10.5%) |
| Education | 11 (19.3%) |
| Innovative approaches (roles) | 12 (21.1%) |
| Innovative approaches (services) | 9 (15.8%) |
| Standardised sessions | 6 (10.5%) |
| Telehealth | 7 (12.3%) |
| Volunteers | 9 (15.8%) |
| Quantitative studies | Number of studies (n = 36) |
| Outcome measures * | |
| Advance care planning | 3 (8.3%) |
| Costs | 3 (8.3%) |
| Death location | 7 (19.4%) |
| Hospice utilisation | 5 (13.9%) |
| Hospital utilisation | 12 (33.3%) |
| Knowledge | 14 (39.0%) |
| Quality of life | 6 (16.7%) |
| Symptoms | 8 (22.2%) |
| Qualitative studies | Number of studies (n = 32) |
| Participants * | |
| Caregivers and family members | 13 (40.6%) |
| Healthcare providers | 21 (66.0%) |
| Patients | 9 (28.1%) |
| Volunteers | 5 (15.6%) |
Note: Percentages might not add to 100% due to rounding; mixed-methods studies included in both qualitative and quantitative categories.
aSome studies include multiple categories, resulting in percentages not adding to 100%.