Dissemination and Influence of the International Family Nursing Association Position Statements: A Scoping Review

Family-centered care is essential for addressing the complex health needs of families globally, yet its implementation remains inconsistent across different cultures and health systems.

Guided by JBI methodology, this scoping review mapped the dissemination and influence of the four core International Family Nursing Association (IFNA) Position Statements (PSs) on education and practice. Five electronic databases and gray literature sources were searched for documents citing the statements from 2013 onward. Following the removal of duplicates, screening was facilitated using Rayyan software. Data on citation metrics and documented influence across the domains of education, practice, research, and policy were charted and synthesized.

The review identified 124 citing sources. A significant disparity exists: the practice-focused statements are widely disseminated and influential, particularly within the practice and education domains, while the education-focused statements show limited uptake. Dissemination is geographically concentrated in high-income countries, and policy influence is minimal. Notably, the practice-focused statements demonstrated greater influence within the education domain than the education-focused statements themselves.

The IFNA-PSs serve as foundational documents for family nursing, but their potential to globally standardize education and shape policy is not yet fully realized. Key barriers include structural inconsistencies across documents and a publication strategy relying on web-based resources rather than indexed journal articles, limiting citation tracking. Future strategies should prioritize revising the statements, pursuing publication in peer-reviewed journals, and applying Implementation Science frameworks to develop targeted initiatives that bridge gaps in education, policy, and geographic reach.