A scoping review of the literature on nursing practices with persons seeking care for sexually transmitted infections.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To examine existing research literature to ascertain what is known about nursing practice in sexually transmitted infection care and identify promising research trends and limitations.

BACKGROUND: Sexually transmitted infections continue to be a significant public health concern with more than 357 million new cases occurring annually worldwide. Nurses are vital for the prevention and care of those affected by sexually transmitted infections. As nursing scope of practice is evolving, there is an urgent need to develop a baseline understanding of the state of nursing knowledge in sexually transmitted infection care.

DESIGN: Nurse researchers and policy and practice experts conducted a scoping review of primary research using Arksey and O'Malley's five-step methodological framework.

METHODS: Primary research literature published between 2000-2014 was searched. Seventeen full-text papers were thematically analysed. Electronic charts were created for data coding and extraction.

RESULTS: The research literature in nursing and sexually transmitted infection care is heterogeneous in topic, method and populations investigated. Sexually transmitted infection care is undertaken by nurses in diverse settings and roles including nurse practitioners and public health, school and emergency room nurses. Three themes that illustrate the main focus of current literature were identified: (1) screening, (2) health education and counselling and (3) scope of nursing practice. Inconsistencies in nursing practice activities in sexually transmitted infection care were noted. Many nurses are not working to their full scope of practice.

CONCLUSIONS: The research in sexually transmitted infection nursing practice is limited. Further research is needed to investigate the context of practice and patient care experiences; to design and test interventions to support nurses working to full scope of practice; and to improve the conceptualisation of nursing in sexually transmitted infection care.

RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Nurses are effectively improving health outcomes among people affected by sexually transmitted infections; however, not working to the full scope of practice could limit our capacity to fully meet patient care needs.