The Family Physician Training Program in the World: A Scoping Review Protocol

Since the emergence of family medicine in the world, different approaches to training family physicians have been utilized. However, there are no united criteria or processes defined for the field. Therefore, this study intends to gather and use the worldwide experience in training family physicians.

This protocol uses the 2020 updated version of Joanna Briggs Institute's (JBI) scoping review and the PCC framework (population, concept, context). The study will review databases and use search engines and related websites by considering the entrance criteria. Resources will be entered into EndNote. The study will use PRISMA for the selection process and content analysis to analyze the studies.

As this is a protocol, no empirical data are presented. The anticipated findings will systematically map family physician training programs worldwide, summarizing extracted data via tables and narrative synthesis across key dimensions: admission criteria, curriculum, core competencies, training duration, teaching/assessment methods, accreditation standards, and career pathways. The synthesis will also highlight contextual variations, knowledge gaps, thematic convergences, and barriers across different health systems. The mapped evidence will inform policymakers on transferable models and contextual adaptations, while acknowledging limitations such as publication and language bias.

It seems that the study results could help policymakers familiarize themselves with different dimensions of different methods of training family physicians in the world and create training plans adoptable by healthcare systems.