Empowerment in healthcare: A thematic synthesis and critical discussion of concept analyses of empowerment.

•A synthesis of concept analyses on empowerment were performed for further understanding and new discussions of empowerment.•Descriptive themes in concept analyses on empowerment involve intrapersonal and interpersonal aspects.•There is little description of challenges in the transition of power between health professionals patients in empowerment.•Equality between health professionals and patients is hardly ever discussed in concept analyses of empowerment.•Empowerment appears as a purpose-oriented action on the terms of health professionals, instead of a transition of power.