Toolkits and Toolboxes on Cancer Care and Mental Health: A Scoping Review Following the PRSMA-ScR Guidelines

Background: Toolkits/toolboxes represent a promising intervention tool for cancer care and mental health. However, research is needed to identify their key components and effective implementation strategies. Methods: Following PRISMA-ScR, the search was conducted across five databases using key terms. Included studies addressed mental health or cancer care using toolboxes or toolkits for adults, documented their delivery or implementation strategies, and were experimental or quasi-experimental in Spanish or English. Excluded studies involved adaptations, relied solely on qualitative methods, did not address the specified population, or were systematic reviews. Three independent reviewers conducted title/abstract screening, full-text review, and data charting, with discrepancies resolved by a senior reviewer. The review protocol was prospectively published in the Open Science Framework (OSF). The Downs and Black's checklist was used to evaluate quality and assess for bias. Results: A total of 33 studies were included in the final review. The toolkits/toolboxes primarily consisted of themes related to mental health and wellness in cancer care. Most mental health diagnoses reported consisted of depression or depressive symptomatology (14, 20.3%) followed by anxiety (12, 17.4%). Educational (13, 15.1%) and cognitive and behavioral strategies (13, 15.1%) were the most frequently used, followed by self-management (10, 11.6%). A total of 13 (39.3%) included Hispanics/Latinos in their sample. In terms of quality appraisal, representation of the entire population was the least frequently met criterion (10, 30%). Conclusions: This review identified important methodological gaps in implementation and population representation, as well as intervention components that can represent promising key aspects of toolkits/toolboxes.