Health activism as nursing practice: A scoping review

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Public Health
• Health Policy

Background:

• Health activism is increasingly recognized as a vital component of nursing practice.
• However, the extent and nature of health activism within nursing remain underexplored.
• Existing literature presents a heterogeneous view of health activism in nursing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a comprehensive scoping review of the existing literature on health activism in nursing practice.
• To identify themes, facilitators, barriers, and educational needs related to health activism in nursing.

Main Methods:

• A scoping review was performed using the Levac et al. framework.
• Searches were conducted across CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus, and Allied Health databases for English-language, peer-reviewed articles published from January 2000 to April 2021.
• Inductive thematic analysis was employed to synthesize findings from 31 included studies.

Main Results:

• Thirty-one articles were included, primarily from North America, with diverse topics and methodologies.
• Four key themes emerged: 'Doing Health Activism,' 'Facilitators to Engaging in Health Activism,' 'Barriers to Health Activism Engagement,' and 'Limited Education.'
• Definitions of activism were inconsistent, often used interchangeably with advocacy.

Conclusions:

• A significant gap exists between the nursing scope of practice and the education/skills required for effective health activism.
• There is a need for enhanced awareness and skill development in health activism within nursing education and practice.
• Further research is warranted to define and explore health activism within the global nursing profession across all specialties.