Holistic Patient Care: A Systematic Review of Recent Evidence (2022–2025)

Abstract

Holistic patient care (also described as whole person care, person-centered care, or integrated approaches) is a clinical and organizational paradigm aimed at addressing,within a coordinated framework,the physical, psychological, social, functional, cultural, and, when appropriate, spiritual dimensions of the health–illness experience. In contexts of increasing multimorbidity and fragmented healthcare delivery, recent literature has focused on: (i) how holistic care is defined and operationalized, (ii) which clinical, experiential, and system outcomes are associated with person-centered and integrated models, and (iii) what challenges remain for measurement and implementation. This systematic review synthesizes evidence published between 2022 and 2025 on models of comprehensive assessment (whole person assessment), person-centered care, integrated interventions for complex conditions, and interdisciplinary approaches. PRISMA 2020 guidance was followed for identification, screening, eligibility, and inclusion. Findings converge on: (a) substantial conceptual heterogeneity (terms and components) that limits comparability, (b) consistent signals of benefit for patient-experience outcomes, care coordination, and some utilization outcomes, and (c) a persistent gap in standardized measurement of whole person healthand in longer-term follow-up. Overall, evidence suggests that holistic care requires realistic implementation designs, interdisciplinary teams, valid comprehensive assessment tools, and value metrics that capture outcomes meaningful to patients and families. (Forsgren et al., 2025; Rohwer et al., 2023; Thomas et al., 2023).