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

Abstract

IntroductionThe 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 analysisThis 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 disseminationThis 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.

Monitoring, Managing, and Communicating Risk of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in Recreational Resources across Canada

“… 54 , 55 The environmental scanning method, 56 – 58 a systematic exploration method with formal searching protocols, 59 , 60 has widespread application in the fields of environmental management and public policy. 61 This method is widely applicable in studying persistent health or environmental challenges and trends for their management, as well as new ideas for obtaining information about specific strategies used to solve similar problems in other contexts or jurisdictions. 62 Environmental scanning is also a principal technique used by researchers and organizations to examine internal and external organizational environments, cultures, and trends that direct how a firm adapts to new needs.…”

Current Use, Capacity, and Perceived Barriers to the Use of Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest in Canada

“…Environmental scans include gathering and interpreting information from the internal and external environments to inform decision-making on policy, planning, program development; data for environmental scans can be from a variety of sources including administrative data, internal reports, key informants, surveys, and interviews. 9 Our data collection incorporated 2 approaches; we asked institutional leads to: (1) provide objective historical data about their hospital practices and protocols; and (2) describe barriers they perceived to be present at their hospitals with regard to ECPR provision.…”

The effectiveness, feasibility, and acceptability of low‐sodium salts worldwide: An environmental scan protocol

“…An environmental scan of low‐sodium salts will be performed from January 2020 to December 2020. The environmental scan has been described as an important and effective public health tool to review the current state of services and programs, evaluate needs, identify evidence gaps, inform policy development, and plan future initiatives 11,12 . This environmental scan is composed of three parts.…”

“…The environmental scan has been described as an important and effective public health tool to review the current state of services and programs, evaluate needs, identify evidence gaps, inform policy development, and plan future initiatives. 11,12 This environmental scan is composed of three parts. The first part is a systematic online search of low-sodium salts.…”