Workplace barriers and facilitators to nurses’ healthy eating behaviour: Qualitative Systematic Review

Abstract Background: Workplace environment has greatly impacted the eating practices of nurses that led to them being overweight and obese. Obesity still exists because of the unhealthy eating habits in the workplace – which eventually effects patients’ care, nurses’ health, and one’s capability to work properly. The aim is to conduct a systematic review to find the healthy eating barriers and facilitators among nurses in the clinical workplace. Methods: This review was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for systematic reviews. Sources searched through eight electronic databases: PROQUEST CENTRAL, SCIENCEDIRECT, MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, WEB SCIENCE, PUB MED and SCOPUS were conducted. All articles were imported into JBI SUMARI for screening purpose. Quality appraisal of the included articles were performed through JBI critical appraisal checklist for qualitative studies. All findings of the included articles were extracted through the JBI data extraction tool. Results: Nine qualitative studies were included in the review. The experiences of 488 nurses generated a total of 37 findings. Two synthesized findings were generated from the categories: (i) Barriers to healthy eating; and (ii) Facilitators to healthy eating. Most studies reported facilitators and barriers to healthy eating. Most of the barriers and the facilitator were related to the organization (night shift and long working hours), personal, physical workplace environment and social. Conclusions: The review results, illustrate clear direction to promote healthy eating on organizational, personal, environmental, and social levels that are attainable in a workplace. Registration: PROSPERO International prospective register of systematic reviews, ID: CRD42022309259