Nurse-Led Health Promotion Interventions in Community Healthcare: A Literature Review

Abstract

Nurse-led health promotion interventions in community healthcare represent a proactive strategy to address rising chronic disease burdens and health disparities through education, empowerment, and preventive care. This literature review synthesizes evidence from 25 studies (2013–2025) identified via Google Scholar, focusing on interventions delivered in non-hospital settings, such as homes, clinics, and community centers. Key strategies include health assessments, lifestyle coaching on diet/exercise/smoking cessation, motivational interviewing, culturally tailored workshops, telehealth follow-ups, and self-management support for chronic conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular risk. Studies, primarily randomized controlled trials and scoping reviews from diverse regions (USA, Europe, Asia), demonstrate significant outcomes: Improved vaccination uptake (Odds ratio 1.8–2.5), medication adherence (up to 30% increase), blood pressure/glucose control (P < 0.01), reduced hospital readmissions (15–25%), and enhanced quality of life scores. Nurse-led models, such as Guided Care, telehomecare, and mHealth programs excel due to relational trust, accessibility, and behavior change integration (e.g., Ottawa Charter alignment, social cognitive theory). However, heterogeneity in intervention duration (4–18 months), sample sizes (23–1,600), and populations (older adults, underserved groups) limits meta-analysis, with barriers, including resource constraints, biomedical silos, and policy gaps. Facilitators encompass multidisciplinary partnerships and digital tools. Findings affirm nurses’ pivotal role in sustainable community health, outperforming usual care in cost-effectiveness and equity. This review recommends scaling nurse training in health promotion competencies, policy prioritization, and rigorous trials to optimize implementation amid global aging and non-communicable diseases epidemics.