JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Improving funding models and policies that facilitate greater interprofessional collaboration and integration at the primary and allied health level could improve the ongoing quality, safety, and future sustainability of the wider healthcare system by reducing inefficiencies and inequalities. Defining these key healthcare funding-related models, policies, and concepts, identifying the research gaps, and systematically mapping the cognate literature will inform future research on this topic.

Objective:

This scoping review will provide a descriptive overview of contemporary healthcare funding models and the key policies involved in the delivery of primary and allied healthcare. Further, it will investigate the impact these models and policies have on interprofessional collaboration and integrated service delivery at the primary and allied healthcare level.

Methods:

A search of published literature will be conducted using the following electronic databases: Ovid (AMED allied and contemporary medicine, EMBASE, EMCARE, MEDLINE, and PsycINFO), EBSCOhost (CINAHL), Scopus, and Web of Science. Sources of unpublished studies and grey literature to be searched will include: GreyLit, Google Scholar, Open Access Theses and Dissertations, ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global, Public Affairs Information (PAIS) Index, WHO, and government health departments of majority English-speaking countries (e.g., Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America). The search will be limited to resources available in the English language and published since 2011. Following the search, independent screening of titles and abstracts will be undertaken by two independent reviewers, with a third reviewer available to resolve any potential disagreements. Full-text resources will then be assessed against the inclusion criteria following the same process. Extracted data will be presented using a convergent narrative approach, accompanied by tables and figures.

Results:

The results of this review are expected in March 2022.

Conclusions:

The findings from this review will be used to inform future research projects investigating the role of primary healthcare funding, interprofessional collaboration, and service integration in improving healthcare access, efficiency, effectiveness, and sustainability. Clinical Trial: No registration.