Aim To report a conceptual definition of intertemporal decision‐making in health behaviours. Background Decisions regarding health behaviours—such as whether to smoke or exercise—occur daily. As these decisions involve trade‐offs between short‐term and long‐term outcomes, conceptualising them within an intertemporal context is crucial for understanding the mechanisms underlying health behaviours and advancing related research. Methods This study employed Walker and Avant’s (2019) concept analysis technique. A systematic search was conducted across databases including PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, CINAHL, APA PsycINFO, EconLit with Full Text and Scopus from the date each database was available to March 2025. Additionally, dictionaries, grey literature and reference lists were reviewed to identify relevant literature. Results A total of 49 papers were included. Intertemporal decision‐making in health behaviours refers to the process through which individuals make trade‐offs and choices between the short‐term and long‐term outcomes of health‐related behaviours, with the consequences encompassing both different aspects (health aspect and nonhealth aspect) and different signs (costs and benefits). Throughout this process, individuals’ dynamic preferences in health‐related decisions ultimately determine their behavioural choices. Conclusion This study developed a universal definition and conceptual model for ‘intertemporal decision‐making in health behaviours’, which aids in comprehensively interpreting individuals’ health behaviours. This conceptual analysis lays the foundation for future research, education, practice and policy, which also contributes to improving healthcare practices and global health. Implications for the Nursing Management We recommend that nursing managers guide nursing teams to integrate patients’ health‐related decision preferences into care assessments, which promotes evidence‐based precision care practices and optimises medical resource allocation.
Fan et al. (Thu,) studied this question.