AUTHOR=Zhuang Zhixiong , Bo Yan 

TITLE=Self-management and role of nurses of diabetic patients: a critical narrative literature review during COVID-19 pandemic

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2025

YEAR=2025

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1626447

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2025.1626447

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=BackgroundDuring COVID-19 and the postepidemic phase, the concept of a frontline emergency response team was gradually expanded [based on a previous clinical trial, https://clinicaltrials.gov/, identifier (ChiCTR2500103976)]. The professional scope of nurses gradually expanded towards the digital. We selected the digital interventions implemented by nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic and self-management by diabetes patients as the research context.AimsTo synthesise a framework for the module-intensity-outcome of digitalised care during COVID-19.MethodsWe searched the PubMed database for literature related to the role of nurses and self-management of diabetes patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, and then used these literature as ‘seed literature’ for a snowball search. We synthesised all the evidence using a directional evidence synthesis method, a narrative description method, and a visual presentation method.ResultsA total of 10 publications were retrieved from the PubMed database, involving a cumulative total of 5,834 adults. This indicates that using these 10 ‘seed literature’ for secondary literature retrieval enhances the persuasiveness of this method. Using these ‘seed literature’, an additional 28 literature were retrieved using the snowball method. Digital nursing has developed rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic due to challenges in patient self-management. During the COVID-19 pandemic, patients sought digital nursing services from nurses due to disrupted healthcare services, surging mental health issues, and unhealthy lifestyles. In this model, nurses serve as a bridge between digital nursing services, the healthcare system, and patients. Digital nursing services not only bridge the gap in nursing services during healthcare crises but also expand the scope of nurses’ professional roles.ConclusionNurse-led digital care with a clear mix of “modules and intensity” may have directional benefits for diabetes self-management and metabolic outcomes.