Implementing collaborative practices in healthcare settings using champions: a scoping review.

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Implementation Science
• Organizational Change Management
• Collaborative Healthcare Practices

Background:

• Champions are increasingly utilized to drive change in healthcare settings.
• Implementing collaborative practices is crucial for improving patient care and system efficiency.
• Existing literature lacks a comprehensive understanding of the champion's role in this context.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review of published literature on the use of champions for implementing collaborative practices in healthcare.
• To identify the characteristics, roles, and reported effectiveness of champions in healthcare settings.
• To explore facilitators and barriers encountered by champions during implementation.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of PubMed and Embase (01.2000-02.2025).
• Screening and selection of articles by paired researchers.
• Data extraction and analysis by multiple researchers focusing on champion roles, collaborative practices, and implementation factors.

Main Results:

• 41 articles were included, predominantly monocentric and qualitative.
• Champions from various professions were often part of multi-professional teams, but their characteristics and training were vaguely described.
• Collaborative practices were frequently embedded within broader projects, and conceptual frameworks were underutilized.

Conclusions:

• Champions are acknowledged for driving change, yet their selection, training, and positioning require further investigation.
• The effectiveness of champions in implementing collaborative practices needs clearer definition and measurement.
• Utilizing theoretical frameworks can enhance the understanding of implementation processes and identify key facilitators and barriers.