Public Engagement Strategies in Digital Health Ethics: Protocol for a Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Digital Health Ethics
• Public Engagement Strategies
• Participatory Design

Background:

• Advancements in digital health technologies necessitate public involvement to align with societal values.
• Meaningful public engagement requires participatory, inclusive, and scalable strategies.
• Current studies lack characterization of digital health engagement strategies regarding scalability, representativeness, and participation extent.

Purpose of the Study:

• Identify public engagement approaches in digital health ethics.
• Characterize these approaches by scalability, representativeness, and participation.
• Explore the role of ethics in designing and implementing participatory methods.

Main Methods:

• Scoping review utilizing the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology.
• Comprehensive literature search across PubMed, ScienceDirect, IEEE Xplore, and Web of Science (2015-2025).
• Systematic screening and data extraction using Rayyan software and spreadsheets.

Main Results:

• Initial search yielded 1352 articles, with 61 included after title/abstract screening.
• Anticipated results include study characteristics, digital health technology types, and participatory methods used.
• Analysis will focus on the participatory, representative, and scalable nature of engagement methods and ethical influences.

Conclusions:

• This protocol outlines a scoping review to map digital health public engagement characteristics and ethics.
• The review aims to enhance participatory and ethically responsible innovation in digital health.
• Findings will inform the design and implementation of more effective public engagement strategies.