A scoping review protocol for the application of intersectionality in primary care research

Past attempts to reduce inequalities in primary care have been met with mixed success. For initiatives to reduce inequalities, it is essential that they identify the most vulnerable groups in society to prevent any future exacerbation of inequalities. Intersectionality theory provides a framework to identify these groups via the exploration of how structural forms of social marginalisation interact to generate unique forms of inequalities. Despite this, little is known about the application of intersectionality theory in primary care research. To address this limitation, we propose a scoping review to comprehensively identify applications of intersectionality in the primary care inequalities literature.

The scoping review will be guided by Arksey and O'Malley's scoping review methodology framework. The review will search for studies using data to investigate intersectionalities in primary care context, using: (i) multiple electronic databases (including MEDLINE, EMBASE, ECONLIT, PsycArticles, Social Policy and Practice, and Scopus); (ii) OpenGrey to search the grey literature; and (iii) a forward and backward citation search. All authors will independently screen studies.

The proposed review will be the first to identify studies that have utilised intersectionality theory and methodologies in a primary care context. The findings will inform the design and evaluation of future primary care inequality interventions.

Systematic review registration: Open Science Framework https://osf.io/h9p83/.