This article will consider the impact of self-efficacy on parental management of acute minor illness by use of an integrative literature review. A multi-stage analytical approach was used to search for primary literature. Databases searched included Cinahl, Scopus, Cochrane Library, PsychINFO, Medline, Research Starters, Science Citation Index, Social Sciences Citation Index, sciELO, ERIC, SocINDEX, JSTOR and AMED Allied and Contemporary Medicine. Databases were searched jointly on DelphiS for papers published between 2005 and May 2015. The review was informed by the approach of Whittemore and Knafl (2005) and consisted of a multi-stage analytical process. This review places parental self-efficacy as the central concept in managing acute childhood illness to explore the theoretical and practical applications for clinicians in urgent and primary care. Thematic analysis of results revealed six themes: appropriateness of attendance, listening to parents, reassurance, perceptions of illness, safety netting and parental learning. The review provides insight into effective consultations that address parental concerns for acute minor childhood illness. The papers reviewed suggest that parents seek medical advice based on considered decision-making. They also showed that when primary care professionals are dismissive, they reduce parental self-efficacy and exacerbate the need for professional consultations.