Self-Care for Nurses and Midwives: Findings from a Scoping Review

Abstract

Self-care for health care professionals is essential in order to optimize the care they provide and to prevent serious consequences for their health. This scoping review aimed to identify (a) the concepts used in the literature to describe self-care; (b) interventions that influence self-care. The scoping review was conducted according to the criteria and methodology by Arksey and O’Malley, from November 2020 to January 2021, by consulting the following databases: Pubmed, CINAHL, Scopus, PsycInfo, Cochrane Library, Joanna Briggs Library. Various keywords and MesH terms were used for the search, including self-care, nurses, midwives, nursing, midwifery, self-compassion, and self-awareness. Eighteen studies were included. The concept of self-care is related to three constructs: (a) Mindfulness; (b) Compassion; and (c) Resilience. In the literature, self-care interventions can be distinguished as (a) mindfulness-based; (b) educational; (c) multimodal approach; and (d) mind-body interventions. In recent years, the concept of self-care is a topic of great interest in the literature; dealing with self-care from both a theoretical and a practical—personal and professional—perspective has become more important in order to promote practitioners’ well-being. This scoping review helps to clarify the terms related to self-care and looks at tested interventions to improve the well-being of caregivers.

Self-care among breast cancer survivors: A concept analysis

“…Further, the self-care agency is also related to the individuals' ability to perform the self-care activities and physical condition, and demonstrate a level of independence, based on the availability of assistance (Narasimhan et al, 2019;Sist et al, 2022). The self-care agency, in the context of breast cancer survivors, is related to estimative self-care activities, including the process of seeking knowledge about necessary self-care activities and a description of their ability to do it.…”

“…( Sist et al, 2022) Nursing Individual actions to improve and maintain their health through symptom monitoring (self-care maintenance), with information support from the health professionals in improving psychomotor self-care abilities (self-care support), or their ability to manage symptoms (self-management), and side effects of certain treatments.…”

“…These instruments comprised of activities for the other attributes of preventing morbidity, and maintaining and promoting health (Arapi et al, 2023;De Maria et al, 2021). Furthermore, the use of the self-management attribute could be found in the Self-efficacy in Managing Symptoms Scale for Patients with Advanced Cancer instrument (Chan et al, 2017) and the self-awareness attribute could be found in the (Armer et al, 2008;Bayliss et al, 2003;Bo et al, 2023;Brown et al, 2015;Chin et al, 2021;Dehkordi, 2016;Dehkordi et al, 2016;Eijck et al, 2020;El-Osta et al, 2019;Fu et al, 2016;Hunt, 2016;International Pharmaceutical Federation, 2022;Kapoor et al, 2020;Ludman et al, 2013;Mccormack, 2003;Mills et al, 2018;Narasimhan et al, 2019;Omisakin & Ncama, 2011;Richard & Shea, 2011;Ridner et al, 2016;Riegel et al, 2018;Sist et al, 2022;Smirnov, 2018 Armer et al, 2008;Bayliss et al, 2003;Chin et al, 2021;Dehkordi et al, 2016;El-Osta et al, 2019;Hunt, 2016;Kapoor et al, 2020;Ludman et al, 2013;Narasimhan et al, 2019;Omisakin & Ncama, 2011;Richard & Shea, 2011;…”

Self-care for health and wellbeing – a literature review

“…The concept of self-care is not new, but it has recently received a new focus in global health policy. It originated with theorist Dorothea E. Orem in 1956 and has evolved over the years to the present day [1]. The World Health Organization defines self-care as "the ability of individuals, families, and communities to promote health, prevent disease, maintain health, and cope with illness and disability, with or without the support of a health professional" [2].…”

Online Mindfulness-Based Intervention Program Improves Mental Health, Well-Being, and Productivity

“…Numerous studies have demonstrated that MBIs can help reduce anxiety and perceived stress, preventing mental disorders (such as depression) and increasing well-being, resilience, and compassion (Fulambarkar et al, 2022;Hofmann & Gómez, 2017;Malik & Annabi, 2022;Sist et al, 2022;Zhang et al, 2020). Mindfulness is an effective method recognized and applied globally as an evidence-based psychopractice.…”