Nursing Literature Mapping in Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Scoping Review

ABSTRACT

Aim

To explore the topics and themes covered in published research studies in nursing about neurodegenerative disease, synthesise the available evidence, and discuss future directions.

Design

Scoping review following the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines.

Methods

A multi-step search strategy was applied across different databases to identify studies published in English or Italian up to September 2023. Data were analysed using a Nursing Data Matrix based on the nursing meta-paradigm and the Child Health and Nutrition Research Initiative (CHNRI) 4D-framework. Screening and data extraction were performed independently by pairs of reviewers; data were extracted and thematically analysed to identify existing research questions and potential priorities.

Data Sources

Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PubMed, and Embase databases were searched for studies published from 2013 to 2023.

Results

A total of 351 studies met inclusion criteria. The majority of studies originated from the United States (35%). Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease were the most studied conditions, while rare diseases were scarcely represented. Most studies focused on nursing care (39%), with limited attention to rehabilitation (0.8%) and cost-effectiveness (1%). Although 70% of articles included at least one nurse author, 22% lacked any nursing authorship despite addressing nursing-related topics. Thematic and matrix analyses revealed an uneven distribution of research, with a predominance of descriptive studies and limited work in discovery-oriented research.

Conclusion

This review provides a comprehensive overview of nursing research in neurodegenerative diseases, highlighting key themes and gaps. The findings informed the preliminary identification of new nursing research priorities in neurodegenerative diseases to guide future studies and enhance evidence-based nursing care.

Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care

The study highlights key trends and gaps in nursing research on neurodegenerative diseases, calling for a more inclusive, equitable, and comprehensive research agenda.

Reporting Method

PRISMA-ScR guidelines.

Patient or Public Contribution

This study did not include patient or public involvement in its design, conduct or reporting.

Trial and Protocol Registration

Review registration was done on Open Science Framework, and can be viewed at https://osf.io/tn5v9 (https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/TN5V9)