The Effectiveness of Family Health Conversations Delivered by Nurses: A Systematic Review

Area of Science:

• Family Health
• Health Services Research
• Quantitative Research

Background:

• Families facing critical or chronic illnesses require targeted support.
• The impact of family health conversations (FHCs) is understudied due to a lack of rigorous quantitative evidence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and interpret quantitative data on the effectiveness of FHCs.
• To assess FHCs' impact on family functioning, perceived support, quality of life, caregiver burden, and overall family health in families with chronic conditions.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review adhering to Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines and reported using the PRISMA 2020 checklist.
• Searched major databases (PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus, Cochrane) for quantitative studies published between 2008-2023.
• Included studies focused on families with chronic conditions, utilizing FHCs based on specific models (Calgary Family Assessment/Intervention, Illness Beliefs) and validated instruments.

Main Results:

• 24 papers met inclusion criteria, including RCTs, quasi-experimental, and mixed-methods studies.
• Statistically significant positive effects of FHCs were found for family functioning (5 studies), perceived support (9/15 papers), quality of life (4/11 papers), and caregiver burden (1/3 papers).
• Variability in intervention approaches and outcomes was noted, with inconsistent results across studies.

Conclusions:

• Current evidence on FHC effectiveness is variable, with partial results for family functioning.
• More high-quality, quantitative research is essential to establish short-, intermediate-, and long-term effectiveness.
• Further investigation is needed to draw definitive conclusions on the benefits of FHCs for families managing chronic health conditions.