Understanding how general practice nurses support adult lifestyle risk reduction: An integrative review

Aim: To review the literature exploring how general practice nurses support lifestyle risk reduction.
Design: Integrative literature review.
Sources: CINAHL, Emcare, MEDLINE, Proquest, and Scopus were searched for peer-reviewed primary research published in English from 2010 –2022.
Methods: Sixteen papers met the inclusion criteria and were assessed for methodological quality using a Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool. Findings were extracted and thematically analysed.
Results: Four themes described general practice nurses: (1) Establishing relational connections; (2) Empowering active participation; (3) Engaging mutual motivation; and (4) Enabling confident action. General practice nurses used complex interpersonal, risk communication, and health coaching skills to build collaborative partnerships that supported patients’ self-determination and self-efficacy. While mutual motivation and confidence were reciprocally enabling, gaps in skills, experience and knowledge plus time, resource and role constraints limited nurses’ ability to support lifestyle risk reduction.
Conclusion: General practice nurses played a key role in lifestyle risk reduction. Ongoing education, funding, organisational and professional supports are needed to enhance their commitment, confidence and capacity.