Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40747901›Full record

ArticleJournal of advanced nursing2026

Experience and Perceptions of Retention Strategies in District Nursing Services: A Web-Based Mixed Methods Cross-Sectional Survey.

Erkan Alkan, Vari M Drennan, Claire Thurgate, Lihua Wu, Mary Halter, Chao Wang

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of advanced nursing, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

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.

2 · The registry

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.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Erkan AlkanFaculty of Health, Science, Social Care & Education, Kingston University, London, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0315-6433
Vari M DrennanInstitute of Health, Education & Science, Kingston University, London, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8915-5185
Claire ThurgateSchool of Nursing, Allied and Public Health, Kingston University, London, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7848-8849
Lihua WuSchool of Nursing, Allied and Public Health, Kingston University, London, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9074-8343
Mary HalterInstitute of Health, Education & Science, Kingston University, London, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6636-0621
Chao WangFaculty of Health, Science, Social Care & Education, Kingston University, London, UK.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7873-0594

Funding

General Nursing Council for England and Wales Trust
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

aimTo investigate the experience and perceptions of the effectiveness of retention strategies of nurses and nursing associates in district nursing services.

designMixed methods cross-sectional online survey.

methodsElectronic invitations were circulated via district nursing professional networks to complete an online survey in England. The survey questions were developed from international evidence-based guidance. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively and using multinomial regression analysis, tested the variation in experienced strategies by job and work characteristics. Content analysis informed qualitative data analysis.

resultsThree hundred and forty-five completed surveys were received. Over 60% of respondents reported experiencing strategies related to a safe working environment (75%), flexible work schedules (65%), well-being (64%) and professional development opportunities (60%). The least frequently reported strategies experienced were involvement in service policymaking (26%), reducing job demands (31%); and creating cohesive nursing teams (40%). Nurses on lower pay grades were statistically less likely than those on the higher pay bands to experience strategies involving professional growth opportunities and involvement in service decision-making. Nurses working in affluent areas were statistically more likely to report experiencing more types of retention strategies than those working in socio-economically deprived areas. Participants' views on effective strategies were mixed but attention to financial aspects (particularly travel costs), manageable workloads, flexibility in work scheduling plus tailored induction/support for those new to district nursing were given the most testimony as effective.

conclusionsRetention strategies are created and enacted by those within employing organisations, district nursing services and district nursing teams, but within the context of a wider health care and labour market system. We suggest the findings could be the starting point for review by district nursing services experiencing high vacancy rates. Our findings raise questions for subsequent investigation across health systems. PATIENT REPORTING

methodThis paper adhered to the relevant Equator guideline A Consensus-Based Checklist for Reporting of Survey Studies (CROSS), https://doi.org/10.1007/s11606-021-06737-1. PATIENT OR PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT: This study did not include patient or public involvement in its design, conduct or reporting.

Indexed as

Attitude of Health PersonnelJob SatisfactionNursing StaffPersonnel TurnoverAdultCross-Sectional StudiesEnglandFemaleHumansInternetMaleMiddle AgedSurveys and Questionnairescommunity healthcross sectional studieshealth workforcenursesnursing servicesworking conditions

Identifiers

PMID40747901
PMCPMC12994618

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.