Nursing Inquiry · 3 authors, 2 centres
This summary was generated by AI from a single paper. It has not been reviewed by a clinician and is not clinical advice. Verify against the source before acting on it.
This systematic mapping review analyzed 34 international nursing research papers on body care for older people in institutional settings. It found the field is dominated by a biomedical, evidence-based approach, with gaps in research on older people's perspectives, relational aspects, and the role of material objects.
The analysis identified four dominant assumptions in the literature: body care as evidence-based practice, as a relational ethical practice, the body as both object and subject, and the objects in care as nonrelational. The review found a strong biomedical orientation, with most studies focusing on outcome and effectiveness, often using standardized measurements that can de-personalize care. A key contradiction was noted: many papers advocate for person-centered care while their study designs reduce older people to specific needs or body parts. The review highlights significant gaps, including a lack of research on older people's perspectives, contextual and material aspects of care, and conceptual work. It concludes that the field needs alternative research designs and theoretical perspectives to better capture the complex social and material realities of body care practices.
