[Patients and caregivers experience on Nursing in Italy: scoping review]

Comparison of the state of nursing in Italy with other countries has shown that theory development in Italian nursing remains quite undeveloped. Theory development in Italian nursing will need to consider local cultural and professional aspects, specific to the Italian practice context, by drawing on known health needs, experiences and nursing approa- ches. The aim of this investigation was to map current knowledge related to nursing in Italy, based on the experiences of patients, families and communities, to provide a basis on which nursing theories could be developed.

Scoping Review was selected as the best method for this knowledge mapping. Fawcett's nursing metaparadigm was chosen as a broad guide and means by which the litera- ture analysis could be structured.

Twenty-two studies were retained and examined in this analysis, including contexts relating to acute care, chronic conditions, as well as emergency and home care services. We defined themes in line with the nursing metaparadigm. Although these definitions are partial, referring only to certain contexts specific to some aspects of nursing care, the original contributions of this investigation provides an important starting point for theory development in Italian nursing, based on the Italian context.

Strong and credible theory development, that can be readily adapted to practice, requires a rigorous analysis of the points of view of all actors involved in the nursing care process.