Primary care models for community-dwelling adults with long-term conditions: a scoping review protocol

This scoping review aims to map primary care models designed to support adults with long-term conditions. The review will analyze the following in relation to the models identified: characteristics, impact reported, implications for practice and outcome measures.

Robust solutions to support individuals with long-term conditions need to be established in order to increase health service capacity and provide cost-effective solutions while, most importantly, ensuring they receive the best services to live meaningful and productive lives.

The concept to be mapped is primary care models used to support adults living with long-term conditions. This may also encompass services not solely designed for people with long-term conditions; however, they will be services that may be the first port of call for this group. Operational a priori criteria have been designed to assist with distinguishing appropriate literature.

Due to the nature of the scoping review, literature from a range of published and unpublished sources will be utilized from 1995 to 2019. Databases to be searched will include: MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, HMIC, CINAHL, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and Web of Science. Appropriate gray literature will be searched, alongside hand searching selected primary care journals, conference abstracts and professional and government bodies. Articles will be restricted to English. Titles and abstracts will be screened by two independent reviewers for assessment against the inclusion criteria. Charting of the data will include details about the population, concept, context, study methods and key findings relevant to the review objective.