Abstract
BACKGROUND: With their influence on health behavior of children, families are important addressees in health promotion and prevention of chronic diseases. However, they are often difficult to reach, partly due to the open approach of health promotion services. Therefore, they should be addressed directly and be involved in shaping their living environment. The aim is to examine which approaches are used in participatory family health promotion and what practical experiences are made. METHODS: A systematic literature search in PubMed, Web of Science, LIVIVO and a supplementary hand search were conducted. Ten of 718 screened publications were analyzed qualitatively. RESULTS: Most included publications applied the community-led participatory approach CBPR. In seven publications, family actors could make decisions at any or all project phases. One finding is that positive effects on desired behavior change and improved health of target groups were observed. Frequently described success factors are the type of interaction, and a common goal. CONCLUSION: The forms of family participation in health promotion vary widely, with the lack of participatory practices being a major challenge. Family participation is a useful approach in shaping health promotion and should be further developed. This overview provides support for planning future participatory projects with families.