Workplace barriers and facilitators to nurses' healthy eating behaviours: a qualitative systematic review

Globally, nurses and midwives have a higher rate of being overweight/obese than the general population, influenced by workplace environments that impact dietary habits.

This systematic review aimed to identify barriers/facilitators to healthy eating among nurses in clinical settings.

This systematic review followed Joanna Briggs Institute's guidelines for qualitative systematic reviews.

Eight electronic databases: PROQUEST CENTRAL, SCIENCEDIRECT, MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, WEB SCIENCE, PUB MED, and SCOPUS were searched. Articles were screened using JBI SUMARI®, and quality assessment was done using the JBI critical appraisal checklist. Data were extracted using the JBI data extraction tool.

Nine qualitative studies were reviewed, involving 488 nurses, concluding 37 distinct findings. Two synthesised findings emerged: barriers, and facilitators to healthy eating, related to organisational (shift work/long working hours), personal, physical workplace environment, and social factors.

The review emphasises the necessity of promoting attainable healthy eating practices at organisational, personal, environmental, and social levels within the workplace.

PROSPERO International prospective register of systematic reviews, ID: CRD42022309259.