Policy monitoring indexes targeting non-communicable diseases: protocol for a scoping review

Cost-effective and feasible policy actions to prevent non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are identified, for example, WHO's Best buys. Monitoring implementation of policy action can be a key indicator of progress in NCD prevention. Several policy monitoring indices have been developed to assess policies targeting NCDs. The objective of this scoping review is to map and synthesise scientific publications and relevant grey literature reporting on the design, characteristics and use of such indexes.

The scoping review will follow Johanna Briggs Institute guidance and reporting will adhere to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses extension for scoping reviews. We will search eight databases (MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane CENTRAL, Global Health, PsycINFO, Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus and FRANCIS) from 1 January 2013 onwards for eligible observational, quasi-experimental and mixed-methods studies in any language and reference lists of included studies and relevant reviews. Criteria for studies to be included are as follows: Population-any composite index designed to monitor the implementation of NCD relevant policies; Concept-monitoring, that is, the systematic collection, analysis and use of data targeting the implementation of policies aimed at reducing the prevalence of major NCDs and/or related behavioural risk factors; Context-national and/or supranational government-initiated policies implemented within the WHO European region. Conceptual-only papers, commentaries, conference abstracts, editorials and letters will be excluded. Screening and data extraction will be done in duplicate. Results will be synthesised narratively using descriptive statistics and visuals.

Ethical approval is not required because the review does not involve primary data collection or direct interaction with human participants. The review is part of the Joint Action PreventNCD project, co-funded by the European Commission and involving 25 European countries. It will contribute to the project's objectives of advancing monitoring systems for NCDs and behavioural risk factors. We plan to disseminate findings at international conferences and to publish the full review in an international peer-reviewed journal.