Trends and hotspots of family nursing research based on Web of Science: A bibliometric analysis

Italian Nursing Research: A Bibliometric Analysis from 1980 to 2020

Aim: The aim of this study was to explore Italian nurses' publications from 1980 to 2020. Background/Objectives: Several studies have been conducted internationally to assess nursing research output. In Italy, there are some older studies, but a comprehensive analysis of the Italian nursing scientific production after 2010 is needed. Methods: A bibliometric analysis was conducted through a retrospective descriptive study. All articles (n = 3423) published by Italian nurses (n = 2170) and indexed in Scopus were included, in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Results: Publication trends show a steady growth, with an increase in publications in journals with higher IFs. Most publications were focused on clinical research and used quantitative methods (n = 2473 articles (86.71%)). The most frequently conducted quantitative studies were observational studies (52.91%), followed by experimental studies (12.5%), instrumental studies (6.72%), and other methodologies (0.15%). Qualitative studies accounted for n = 318 articles (11.15%), and mixed-method studies accounted for n = 61 articles (2.14%). Conclusions: The overall improvement in Italian nursing research is due to the increase in the number of nurses with PhDs and academics in the country. More funding and nursing research positions are needed to further improve research.

A Citation Analysis of the Top 50 Most Cited Nurse Practitioner Publications

The role of nurse practitioners (NPs) has become integral to healthcare systems worldwide. Originating in the United States over 50 years ago, it has since been adopted by countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia. To honor the research and contributions that have shaped the NP discipline, it is valuable to review and recognize key literature that has significantly impacted its development. Bibliometrics, a research methodology, offers an objective lens for evaluating the influence of scholarly articles on the evolution of a discipline. Citation analysis (CA), a key method in bibliometrics, examines how frequently a publication is cited by others, often serving as a measure of its impact, influence, and contribution to its field. This study aims to identify the top 50 most cited publications related to NPs in the Web of Science (WoS) database to review and describe the influential works that have contributed to the profession's growth. Comparisons are drawn with a parallel review in Scopus and recent NP-related bibliometric studies. In 2021, a structured search was conducted using the WoS Core Collection with key terms such as "Nurse Practitioner" and "Advanced Practice Nurse". Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, and publications were ranked by citation count from highest to lowest. The analysis covered citation counts, topics, publication dates/types, country of origin, author details (institution and discipline), and journal characteristics (e.g., impact factor, IF). The top 50 most cited articles and their characteristics are presented. Citation counts ranged from 78 to 656, with publication dates spanning six decades across 30 journals, 38 institutions, and 194 authors. The leading authors were Mary O'Neil Mundinger, Denise Bryant-Lukosius, and Alba DiCenso. Topics included the role's impact and development, registration/licensing, and scope of practice. Most articles (n = 35) were published in journals with an IF greater than 2. This review offers a systematic approach to identifying seminal works that have influenced the NP profession globally. While CA has its limitations, it provides a valuable method for literature review. This study contributes valuable insights into the history and development of NP research and offers guidance for future research efforts.

Family-Focused Nursing Research in WHO Afro-Region Member States: A Scoping Review

Although family nursing research has become an important focus for over the past 20 years, the evolution and extent of family nursing research in the World Health Organization (WHO) Afro-regions is less explored. The purpose of this scoping review was to map the evidence of family-focused nursing research using the Joanna Briggs Institute Scoping Review methodology. A systematic electronic search of articles was carried out for the period January 1, 2000 to December 31, 2020. The review process culminated in 85 articles, evidencing an increase in publications particularly in 2019 (n = 12). Eighteen countries were involved, with the Southern African region contributing 52% of the studies. Family members were predominantly described as parents, siblings, and children, with the most focused area of study being family experiences (n = 52). The majority of studies (n = 59) used qualitative methodologies. Despite the recent increase in family-focused nursing research in the WHO Afro-regions, further qualitative research, including more complex methodologies and interventions are still required to build contextualized evidence-based family-focused nursing.

Intergenerational Solidarity With Grandparents in Emerging Adulthood: Associations With Providing Support to Older Parents in Established Adulthood

We examined the link between types of intergenerational solidarity with grandparents among young adults in emerging adulthood and whether they provided instrumental and emotional support to their older parents in established adulthood. We used the 2000 and 2016 waves of the longitudinal study of generations and a sample of 229 grandmother-child and 175 grandfather-child dyads. Latent class analysis identified three classes describing intergenerational solidarity with grandparents (tight-knit, detached, and intimate-but-geographically distant) in grandmother-child and grandfather-child dyads in emerging adulthood. Path analyses showed that young adults who had a tight-knit relationship with their grandparents in emerging adulthood provided more instrumental and emotional support to their parents in established adulthood, compared with those who had a detached relationship with their grandparents in emerging adulthood. Results are interpreted in contexts of multigenerational interdependence within families and the sensitivity of young adults to the needs of older parents through their earlier connection to grandparents.

Anxiety and related factors among parents of patients with breast cancer after surgery in Japan: A multi-informant and multilevel study

AIM

Anxiety and its correlates in parents of patients with breast cancer have rarely been studied. We explored anxiety among parents of postoperative patients with breast cancer and its relationship with parents' social support and care needs and patients' anxiety.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey using self-report questionnaires and medical records was conducted among patients with breast cancer after surgery and their parents at four designated cancer care hospitals between September 2015 and June 2016. Anxiety was measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Parents provided information about social support and care needs. Multilevel analysis was performed on patient-parent paired data controlling for patient-level variation.

RESULTS

Participants included 107 patients, 83 mothers, and 51 fathers. The mean HADS anxiety scores reported by mothers and fathers were 7.2 and 6.5, respectively, which were higher than patients' HADS anxiety scores. Fulfillment of important care needs was related to lower anxiety among mothers and fathers (estimate = -1.38, p = .01). Lower family support and higher patient anxiety were associated with higher anxiety in mothers, but not fathers.

CONCLUSIONS

Parents of patients with breast cancer had high anxiety. Communication, providing cancer-related information, and fulfilling care needs can alleviate anxiety in parents of patients with breast cancer after surgery. Furthermore, increasing family support and decreasing patients' anxiety are essential to alleviating mothers' anxiety.