Digital ecosystems for healthcare communication and collaboration: A scoping review

Digital ecosystems integrate interconnected tools, platforms, and stakeholders to support healthcare delivery. While prior research has examined their technological architecture, limited attention has been paid to their role in enhancing communication and collaboration, particularly in low-resource settings. This scoping review explores how digital ecosystems facilitate these functions, identifying key components, applications, barriers, and enablers.

Following the Arksey and O'Malley framework, enhanced by Levac et al., a scoping review was conducted using Scopus, PubMed, JSTOR, and Emerald. The review included studies published between 2009 and 2024 and adhered to PRISMA-ScR reporting standards. A total of 15 eligible studies were analysed thematically.

Five core ecosystem components emerged: interoperability, stakeholder diversity, patient-centred tools, innovative platforms, and knowledge sharing. Ecosystems supported real-time communication, improved service coordination, and enhanced care accessibility through tools such as telemedicine and mHealth. In low-resource settings, barriers included fragmented digital infrastructure, privacy regulations, and provider resistance. Enablers included strong stakeholder engagement, supportive policies, and low-bandwidth digital solutions like SMS-based platforms.

This review highlights the communicative and collaborative functions of digital ecosystems as central to their value in healthcare not just their technological capacity. It contributes a contextual perspective by detailing implementation challenges and adaptations in low- and middle-income countries. To advance the field, future research should adopt standardized frameworks, expand empirical studies in underrepresented settings, and emphasize inclusive, scalable designs that respond to local healthcare realities.