Table 1 Characteristics of studies ᅟ

Comellas (2010), [25] United States

Pilot Study using pretest/post-test controls, n = 17

Diabetes Mellitus

66.8 years (average), 71 % female

Minority Adults in Urban communities

To improve diabetes self-management behaviors by becoming more physically active, eating healthier, adhering to medication, solving problem and setting goals.

Not Stated

Community Health Promoters

Crogan, Evans & Bendel (2008)^a, [24] United States

Descriptive pilot project using pretest/post-test controls, n = 7

Cancer

48–74 years, 86 % female

Unknown

To evaluate symptom reports and the impact of a nurse-led storytelling intervention occurring in a supportive group setting

Watson’s (1985) 10 Carative Factors

Nurse

Evans, Crogan & Bendel (2008)^a, [38] United States

Descriptive single blind pilot project, n = 10

Cancer

48–74 years, 86 % female

Unknown

To develop a nurse-led storytelling intervention for oncology patients, and implement the intervention using trained oncology nurses

Watson’s (1988) Theory of Human Caring

Oncology nurse educators

Greenhalgh et al. (2011a)^b[12], United Kingdom

Pilot randomized controlled trial, n = 79 (10–12 per group)

Diabetes Mellitus

Unknown

Minority ethnic, Low income

To refine and test the new complex intervention in diabetes education; informal story-sharing group

Not Stated

Bilingual Health Advocate

Greenhalgh, Collard & Begum (2005b), [26] United Kingdom

Action research framework drawing on thematic and narrative analysis n = 42

Diabetes Mellitus

Unknown

Multi-ethnic, Low income

To develop and refine complex interventions for diabetes support and education in minority ethnic groups

Not Stated

Bilingual Health Advocate

Greenhalgh et al. (2011b), [15] United Kingdom

T hematic and narrative analysis n = 82 (groups of 7–12)

Diabetes Mellitus

25–82 years, 73 % female

African Caribbean & Bangladeshi & Tamil & Punjabi/Urdu & Somali, Low income

To analyze narratives of people with diabetes to inform design of culturally congruent self-management education programmes

Not Applicable

Bilingual Health Advocate

Koch & Kralik (2001), [28] Australia

Participatory Stringer’s Action Research Approach n = 8

Multiple Sclerosis & Urinary Incontinence

52 years (average), 100 % female

Unknown, Mixed income

To describe the development and implementation of an action research program focusing on understanding the experience of living with chronic illness

Not Stated

1st author (a nurse) in 1st group, inexperienced research student in 2nd group

Piana (2010), [20] Italy

N = 94 (total) Descriptive narrative

Diabetes Mellitus

16 years (average), 44 % female

No socio-demographic data were considered.

To induce a narrative-autobiographical approach in the care and education of adolescents with type-1 diabetes and observe the effects of this novel approach on adolescents’ self-awareness, concern for self-care, and well-being.

Narrative-Autobiographical Approach

Doctors, Nurses, Educators, Trainers, Dieticians, Psychologists

Sitvast (2013) [27], the Netherlands

Multiple-case design, n = 42

Psychiatric Disorders

Unknown

Unknown

To investigate whether the process of making photo stories in health care matches with requirements of self-motivation in self-management programs

Social Cognitive & Ecological Theories on Health Behavior

Nurses and Occupational Therapists

Struthers et al. (2003) [17], United States

Descriptive phenomenological, n = 147 (5–20 per circle)

Diabetes Mellitus

Unknown

Native American, Unknown

To find out what the experiences of American Indian Talking Circle participants are

Not stated

Community members with expertise in the culture