Background: Concept analysis is an essential process in the development of nursing science. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the approaches used to conduct concept analysis in nursing.
Methods: This study was conducted as a scoping review. Google Scholar and international databases, including PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and CINAHL, as well as Iranian databases such as the Scientific Information Database (SID) and Magiran, were searched using the keywords "nursing concept analysis methods," "concept analysis methods," "nursing concept analysis approaches," and "concept analysis approaches," along with their Persian equivalents, combined with the Boolean operators AND and OR. The search was conducted without time restrictions and included studies published up to May 29, 2025.
Results: A variety of methods for concept analysis in nursing were identified, ranging from classical approaches, such as those proposed by Wilson, Walker and Avant, and Rogers, to more recent methods, including pragmatic utility, semantic, simultaneous, and systematic concept analysis. The specific applications and limitations of each method depend on the research objectives and the context in which it is applied.
Conclusion: This review contributes to nursing theory by clarifying and comparing concept analysis methods, thereby strengthening conceptual foundations and supporting nursing research through informed methodological decision-making. It also has implications for nursing practice and policy by promoting the clearer application of key concepts in clinical and educational settings.
