The use of the environmental scan in health services delivery research: a scoping review protocol

Introduction The environmental scan has been described as an important tool to inform decision-making on policy, planning and programme development in the healthcare sector. Despite the wide adoption of environmental scans, there is no consensus on a working definition within the health services del...

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Main Authors: Shelley Doucet, Patricia Charlton, Rima Azar, Daniel A Nagel, Leah Boulos, Alison Luke, Kim Mears, Katherine J Kelly, William J Montelpare
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2019-09-01
Series:BMJ Open
Online Access:https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/9/e029805.full
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author Shelley Doucet
Patricia Charlton
Rima Azar
Daniel A Nagel
Leah Boulos
Alison Luke
Kim Mears
Katherine J Kelly
William J Montelpare
author_facet Shelley Doucet
Patricia Charlton
Rima Azar
Daniel A Nagel
Leah Boulos
Alison Luke
Kim Mears
Katherine J Kelly
William J Montelpare
author_sort Shelley Doucet
collection DOAJ
description Introduction The environmental scan has been described as an important tool to inform decision-making on policy, planning and programme development in the healthcare sector. Despite the wide adoption of environmental scans, there is no consensus on a working definition within the health services delivery context and methodological guidance on the design and implementation of this approach is lacking in the literature. The objectives of this study are to map the extent, range and nature of evidence that describe the definitions, characteristics, conceptualisations, theoretical underpinnings, study limitations and other features of the environmental scan in the health services delivery literature and to propose a working definition specific to this context.Methods and analysis This protocol describes a scoping review based on the methodology outlined by Khalil and colleagues. A comprehensive search strategy was developed by experienced health science librarians in consultation with the research team. A Peer Review of Electronic Search Strategies (PRESS) was completed. Two reviewers will independently screen titles, abstracts and full-text articles and select studies meeting the inclusion criteria from seven electronic databases: Academic Search Premier, Canadian Business & Current Affairs (CBCA), CINAHL, ERIC, Embase, MEDLINE and PsycINFO. The grey literature and reference lists of included articles will also be searched. The data will be analysed and presented in tabular format, and will include a descriptive numerical summary as well as a qualitative thematic analysis.Ethics and dissemination This protocol provides an audit trail for a scoping review that will advance understanding about the environmental scan and its application in the health services delivery context. The review will propose a working definition and will inform future research to explore the development of a conceptual framework in this context. Findings will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed journal and conference presentations. The scoping review does not require ethics approval.
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spelling doaj-art-d5d8730255f24c8ca53829dc4703637e2025-08-20T01:50:39ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open2044-60552019-09-019910.1136/bmjopen-2019-029805The use of the environmental scan in health services delivery research: a scoping review protocolShelley Doucet0Patricia Charlton1Rima Azar2Daniel A Nagel3Leah Boulos4Alison Luke5Kim Mears6Katherine J Kelly7William J Montelpare8Department of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, New Brunswick, CanadaAdjunct Faculty, Faculty of Nursing, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, CanadaPsychology Department, Mount Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada4 Department of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, New Brunswick, CanadaMaritime SPOR SUPPORT Unit, Halifax, Nova Scotia, CanadaUniversity of New Brunswick (UNB) Saint John Collaboration for Evidence-Informed Healthcare: A JBI Centre of Excellence, Saint John, New Brunswick, CanadaData and Research Services, Robertson Library, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, CanadaCentre for Research in Integrated Care, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada9 Department of Applied Human Sciences, University of Prince Edward Island, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, CanadaIntroduction The environmental scan has been described as an important tool to inform decision-making on policy, planning and programme development in the healthcare sector. Despite the wide adoption of environmental scans, there is no consensus on a working definition within the health services delivery context and methodological guidance on the design and implementation of this approach is lacking in the literature. The objectives of this study are to map the extent, range and nature of evidence that describe the definitions, characteristics, conceptualisations, theoretical underpinnings, study limitations and other features of the environmental scan in the health services delivery literature and to propose a working definition specific to this context.Methods and analysis This protocol describes a scoping review based on the methodology outlined by Khalil and colleagues. A comprehensive search strategy was developed by experienced health science librarians in consultation with the research team. A Peer Review of Electronic Search Strategies (PRESS) was completed. Two reviewers will independently screen titles, abstracts and full-text articles and select studies meeting the inclusion criteria from seven electronic databases: Academic Search Premier, Canadian Business & Current Affairs (CBCA), CINAHL, ERIC, Embase, MEDLINE and PsycINFO. The grey literature and reference lists of included articles will also be searched. The data will be analysed and presented in tabular format, and will include a descriptive numerical summary as well as a qualitative thematic analysis.Ethics and dissemination This protocol provides an audit trail for a scoping review that will advance understanding about the environmental scan and its application in the health services delivery context. The review will propose a working definition and will inform future research to explore the development of a conceptual framework in this context. Findings will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed journal and conference presentations. The scoping review does not require ethics approval.https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/9/e029805.full
spellingShingle Shelley Doucet
Patricia Charlton
Rima Azar
Daniel A Nagel
Leah Boulos
Alison Luke
Kim Mears
Katherine J Kelly
William J Montelpare
The use of the environmental scan in health services delivery research: a scoping review protocol
BMJ Open
title The use of the environmental scan in health services delivery research: a scoping review protocol
title_full The use of the environmental scan in health services delivery research: a scoping review protocol
title_fullStr The use of the environmental scan in health services delivery research: a scoping review protocol
title_full_unstemmed The use of the environmental scan in health services delivery research: a scoping review protocol
title_short The use of the environmental scan in health services delivery research: a scoping review protocol
title_sort use of the environmental scan in health services delivery research a scoping review protocol
url https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/9/e029805.full
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