Evidence for nursing interventions to promote family integrity: a rapid review

Abstract

Background:

Family integrity is a vital determinant of health, influencing emotional, social and clinical outcomes. The nursing intervention ‘Family Integrity Promotion’ has been included in nursing classifications since 1992 but lacks systematic evaluation of its scientific foundation.

Aims:

This study aimed to assess the level of evidence supporting the Nursing Interventions Classification (NIC) intervention ‘Family Integrity Promotion’ to inform evidence-based nursing practice.

Methods:

A rapid review was conducted using Scopus and PubMed, following the Population – Concept – Context framework and Plüddemann’s rapid review protocol. The searches were conducted up to October 2024, with no restrictions on publication year. Seventeen studies meeting inclusion criteria were analysed using the Qualified Scientific Information tool.

Results:

Most studies were qualitative or descriptive (n = 13, 76.5%), with weighted evidence concentrated at clinical-descriptive (level C) and theoretical (level D) classifications. Only two studies addressed all 23 intervention activities, both generating theoretical-level evidence.

Conclusions:

Despite limited high-level evidence, partial findings support the intervention’s clinical relevance. Strengthening methodological rigour in future research is essential for advancing its empirical validation and implementation.