Healthcare provider-patient communication challenges: A scoping review protocol (Preprint)

BACKGROUND Background: Given the necessity of effective communication of healthcare providers, especially doctors, and nurses, with patients and the existence of many challenges in providing effective healthcare services, the present study aimed to identify healthcare provider-patient communication challenges and the facilitating and inhibiting factors underlying such communication using a scoping review protocol. OBJECTIVE Objectives: This scoping review protocol aims to systematically map existing evidence on HCP-patient communication challenges, with particular focus on identifying: (1) key barriers to effective communication, (2) facilitating factors that enhance interactions, and (3) critical gaps in current research. METHODS Materials & Methods: This study was conducted following the JBI method for scoping reviews, which focuses on studies that have addressed the relationship between healthcare providers (doctors, nurses, clinical specialists) and patients. The search strategy was applied in two PubMed and Embase databases including studies published since 2000 in English and Persian, without restrictions on the type of publication or study design. The participants in the studies were patients as well as healthcare providers and health professionals who had direct contact with patients. RESULTS Significance: The findings will provide valuable insights for healthcare policymakers, educators, and practitioners seeking to improve communication practices and enhance the quality of patient care. CONCLUSIONS Ethics of data publication: As a scoping review seeks to merge information from publicly available publications, this study does not require ethical approval. The findings from this study may be relevant to health policymakers who are interested in planning to improve the quality of healthcare services.