Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2025 Jan;81(1):181-197.
doi: 10.1111/jan.16306. Epub 2024 Jun 28.

Safeguarding adults: A concept analysis

Anita Duffy  1   2 , Freda Browne  1 , Michael Connolly  1   2
Affiliations
Review

Safeguarding adults: A concept analysis

Anita Duffy et al. J Adv Nurs. 2025 Jan.

Abstract

Aims: This article aimed to examine the concept of safeguarding adults and establish an operational definition for application to practice, research and policy.

Design: Rodgers' evolutionary and inductive method of concept analysis was used.

Data sources: A systematic search was conducted across four electronic databases, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Scopus and PubMed, covering the period from January 2014 to May 2023. This systematic database search aimed to gather a broad spectrum of research and scholarly literature to inform and support the concept analysis. A total of 10 peer-reviewed articles were reviewed using a data chart to identify the context, definitions, antecedents, attributes and consequences of safeguarding adults.

Results: The analysis of the included articles helped to develop a better understanding of safeguarding adults by offering a practical operational definition tailored to the specific needs of practising nurses. The implications for practice, research and policy are discussed, highlighting the potential for improving the quality of care and ensuring the well-being of adults at risk of abuse.

Conclusion: By employing Rogers' evolutionary concept analysis method, we developed a deeper insight into safeguarding adults in health care. A synthesis of literature revealed the intricate layers and adaptations within safeguarding practices. This concept analysis lays the groundwork for future research, policy development and educational initiatives, enhancing the well-being and safety of adults at risk of abuse within care.

Impact: By undertaking a concept analysis of the term safeguarding adults' nurses can be more prepared to engage in and reinforce the key principles of safeguarding adults, providing guidance to ensure the protection and well-being of adults at risk of abuse.

Patient or public contribution: Not applicable.

What this paper contributes to the wider body of knowledge: This concept analysis helps to define and clarify the conceptual term 'safeguarding adults' promoting a shared understanding of the key components of adult protection and providing a comprehensive framework for assessment and management of adults at risk of abuse in this field of practice.

Keywords: abuse; concept analysis; nursing; safeguarding adults.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
PRISMA diagram.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Safeguarding adults conceptual model.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Aiken, L. H. , Sloane, D. M. , Bruyneel, L. , Van Den Heede, K. , Griffiths, P. , Busse, R. , Diomidous, M. , Kinnunen, J. , Kózka, M. , & Lesaffre, E. (2014). Nurse staffing and education and hospital mortality in nine European countries: A retrospective observational study. The Lancet, 383, 1824–1830. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Aktar, B. , Alam, W. , Ali, S. , Awal, A. , Bayoh, M. , Chumo, I. , Contay, Y. , Conteh, A. , Dean, L. , Dobson, S. , Edstrom, J. , Elsey, H. , Farnaz, N. , Garimella, S. , Gray, L. , Gupte, J. , Hawkins, K. , Hollihead, B. , Josyula, K. L. , … Wurie, H. (2020). How to prevent and address safeguarding concerns in global health research programmes: Practice, process and positionality in marginalised spaces. BMJ Global Health, 5, e002253. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Al‐Ababneh, M. M. (2020). Linking ontology, epistemology and research methodology. Science & Philosophy, 8, 75–91.
    1. Beckwith, S. , Dickinson, A. , & Kendall, S. (2008). The ‘con’ of concept analysis: A discussion paper which explores and critiques the ontological focus, reliability and antecedents of concept analysis frameworks. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 45, 1831–1841. - PubMed
    1. Braithwaite, J. (2018). Changing how we think about healthcare improvement. BMJ, 361, k2014. - PMC - PubMed