Mapping complex interventions in Portuguese healthcare research: a scoping review protocol

Abstract

Along with the worldwide recognition of the importance of the methodological guidance to the validity and rigour of complex health interventions, this scoping review aims to identify and characterise the scientific evidence on complex health interventions in Portuguese healthcare research. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidance for scoping reviews will be followed. The population (P) concept (C) context (C) mnemonic will scaffold the research questions, inclusion and exclusion criteria, and searching strategy. MEDLINE, CINAHL, LILACS, and Open Access Scientific Repository of Portugal (RCAAP) will be searched. Scientific evidence reporting complex health interventions in the Portuguese healthcare context, in Portuguese and English and published from 2008 and onwards will be considered for inclusion. Literature pertaining to complex health interventions outside the Portuguese healthcare context will be excluded. The literature will be screened for eligibility by two independent reviewers first by title and abstract and subsequently by full-text. A data matrix will be used for data-extraction of the included literature. The charted data will be thematically analysed and presented graphically with a narrative description of the literature characteristics. The results from this literature review are expected to provide an overview of the knowledge concerning the characteristics and methodological guidance of Portuguese complex health interventions.