Healthy Community Development Conducted by Public Health Nurses: A Scoping Review

Abstract

Objective: The study’s objective was to identify trends and findings within the research on healthy community development conducted by public health nurses in Japan.

Methods: A scoping review of 30 studies was conducted within the literature on healthy community development by public health nurses.

Results: The largest number of papers was published in 2018. The scoping review found that the largest number of studies focused on “public health nursing techniques and support contents” (15 studies). Among the other studies, five studies examined the definitions and conceptualizations of “community development” and “community strengths” as related to healthy community development; five studies focused on the “development of evaluation scales related to community health activities.” Four studies focused on “characteristics and changes of residents who participated in community health activities.” Only one study, entitled “Conditions for the promotion of healthy community development,” was found to promote healthy community development.

Discussion: Research into the promotion and evaluation of healthy community development measures has not progressed satisfactorily. The study suggested the need for future research into the promotion and evaluation of sustainable, effective, and efficient healthy community-development measures.