Family-oriented interventions in long-term care residential settings: a scoping review protocol

The objective of this review will be to identify the characteristics (eg, type, duration, and provider) of family-oriented interventions in long-term care residential settings. The authors will also identify which outcomes are reported in the literature when implementing family-oriented interventions.

An array of family-oriented interventions in long-term care residential settings exist. Given the heterogeneity of current literature, mapping characteristics and intended outcomes of family-oriented interventions is an essential step to inform how best to support families of patients in long-term care residential settings.

This review will consider studies describing family-oriented interventions for families of elderly patients in long-term care residential settings, with no exclusion based on country, gender, or comorbidities. Interventions that address any family-related issue, such as quality of life, psychological burden, and family involvement in patient care, are eligible for inclusion. Studies will be excluded if the patients are cared for at their own homes or institutionalized care is provided on a temporary basis. Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed method study designs will be considered for inclusion.

A scoping review will be conducted using the JBI methodological approach. Seven databases will be systematically searched: MEDLINE, CINAHL, Scopus, Evidence-Based Medicine Reviews including Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, OpenGrey, and the Grey Literature Report. Citations will be screened against the inclusion criteria by two reviewers independently. Relevant data will be extracted from the included studies, and will be synthesized, summarized, and reported following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. Findings will be published in a peer-reviewed journal.