Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42129789›Full record

ArticleBMC medical education2026

Norm-critical elements in nursing and healthcare education: a scoping review.

Ivan Andrés Castillo, Kicki Klaeson, Ann-Catrin Ekelund, Ellinor Tengelin

Abstract readScoping Review
In one paragraph

Article in BMC medical education, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

4 authors.

Ivan Andrés CastilloDepartment of Health Sciences, University West, Trollhättan, SE-461 86, Sweden. Ivan-andres.castillo@hv.se.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0817-2360
Kicki KlaesonDepartment of Health Sciences, University West, Trollhättan, SE-461 86, Sweden.
Ann-Catrin EkelundMedical Library, Region Västra Götaland, Skaraborgs Hospital, Skövde, Sweden.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4223-5014
Ellinor TengelinDepartment of Health Sciences, Occupational Health Science, Mid Sweden University, Östersund, SE-831 25, Sweden.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2358-5086

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAccess to healthcare is a fundamental human right that is often influenced by social norms and power structures. Implicit biases in society, healthcare, and education contribute to health inequalities. Incorporating equity and social justice into nursing and healthcare education, through norm-critical pedagogy can empower learners to address and promote social justice and health equity in patient care and community health.

methodsThe aim of the study was to describe characteristics and recurring elements of norm-critical literature in published research. This study followed Arksey and O'Malley's scoping review framework and adhered to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis extension for scoping reviews to report the findings. A search was conducted in across five scientific databases - CINAHL, APA PsycINFO, ERIC, Medline, and Web of Science - limiting results to English language articles. Two authors independently screened, extracted, and analysed the data, guided by selected key concepts based on the population, concept, and context framework. The included articles were condensed according to specific characteristics and analysed thematically.

resultsSixteen articles were included in the review, and all published from 2017 onwards, primarily in nursing journals. Most of these articles employed qualitative methodologies. A thematic analysis generated three themes: 'Redesigning education toward norm-critical pedagogy', 'Redefining one's positionality as a teacher', and 'Transforming education for a norm-conscious sustainable healthcare future'.

conclusionsThis scoping review concludes that the characteristics of norm-critical literature, primarily centred on Western nursing education, has limited applicability in other healthcare educations. The literature describes key challenges in integrating norm-criticism into educational structures, often placing undue responsibility on individual teachers to adopt a norm-critical pedagogy. This review calls for further empirical research on norm-criticism to advance its use as a pedagogical model in nursing and healthcare education.

Indexed as

Education, NursingSocial JusticeHealth EquityHumansHealthcare educationHealth equityNorm-critical pedagogyNorm-criticismNursing educationSocial justice

Identifiers

PMID42129789
PMCPMC13169698

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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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.