ArticleBMC nursing2025
Nursing theories as guidance for autonomy support in activities of daily living: a scoping review.
Article in BMC nursing, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Efficacy, Effectiveness, and Efficiency of Nurse-Led Interventions: Insights From a Critical Systematic Review.Nursing inquiry · 2026Pooled it
- Learning to support client autonomy during clinical nursing training: an exploratory qualitative descriptive study.International journal of nursing studies advances · 2026Article
- Supporting Autonomy in ADL Care. How Nursing Students Learn in Theory Classes: A Qualitative Multi-Perspective Study.Nursing education perspectivesArticle
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSupporting others with self-care activities lies at the core of nursing practices. While supporting autonomy within essential care is important, there remains a lack of knowledge on what autonomy comprises and how nurses can demonstrate autonomy-supportive behavior. In order to find guidance, we consulted nursing theories that have shaped the profession. This study aims to explore in what way autonomy is described within the nursing theories and how they describe what nurses could/should undertake to demonstrate autonomy-supportive behaviors within activities of daily living.
methodsA scoping review was performed, in adherence to the Johanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews, adhering to the EQUATOR guidelines, using the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses extension for scoping reviews, PRISMA-ScR, in order to report the scoping review results. Nursing theories were identified through textbooks, PubMed and expert feedback during the period of April to July 2023. No publication year restrictions were applied. Theories (writings that informed, under pinned, or described nursing care) were included if published in English or Dutch. Data extraction was carried out, performing a content analysis using inductive coding to identify categories of autonomy-supportive behavior.
resultsOf 25 nursing theories identified, nine met the inclusion criteria. While none provided explicit definitions of autonomy-supportive behavior, autonomy was described as encompassing being oneself, having freedom and control over one's life, expressing and making choices, and engagement in carrying out actions. Six categories of autonomy-supportive behavior were identified: being aware of one's own behavior, respecting individual uniqueness, fostering interpersonal connections, facilitating open communication, allowing the other person to choose the best action, and collaborative guidance and assistance.
conclusionThis review explored how autonomy is defined in prominent nursing theories and how nurses can foster autonomy in activities of daily living. Despite its central role in healthcare, no consistent definition of autonomy or autonomy-supportive behavior was identified. While nursing theories provide valuable insights, these remain largely theoretical and lack practical applicability. Further research is needed to translate these concepts into actionable strategies for everyday practice.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.