Uncovering the influence of community nursing on health promotion in China : a biopower analysis

Abstract

The importance of community nursing in health promotion is increasingly acknowledged, yet limited research has explored how it shapes this domain through power dynamics. This article examines the role of community nursing in health promotion within China's healthcare context, drawing on Michel Foucault's concept of biopower. Using an interpretive case study approach, the study investigates hypertension management through online semi-structured interviews with 22 community nurses in Shenzhen, a face-to-face group discussion with seven nurses, and four months of non-participant observation at a major community health facility. Thematic analysis reveals that community nursing operates as a biopower mechanism, advancing health promotion at both individual and population levels. Specifically, nurses enforce disciplinary training through patient follow-ups facilitated by the dual referral system, disseminate health knowledge via educational lectures, and engage in policy advocacy and statistical surveillance to regulate patient behaviour. These techniques, which are persuasive, constructive, and evidence-based, exemplify biopower in practice. Building on these findings, this article introduces an interpretive framework grounded in biopower to highlight the critical public health contributions of community nursing in Shenzhen's evolving healthcare landscape. The insights presented offer valuable implications for policy development and the optimisation of primary healthcare across China's diverse regions.