Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Research Protocols
Date Submitted: Feb 17, 2026
Date Accepted: May 29, 2026
Assessment Instruments for Social Anxiety in Oral and Public Communication Among Health Sciences Students: Protocol for a Scoping Review
ABSTRACT
Background:
Proficiency in interpersonal communication and social skills is fundamental for health sciences students, but social anxiety in oral and public communication frequently compromises academic performance, emotional well-being, and essential competency acquisition. The post-pandemic educational environment has exacerbated student stress, highlighting the urgent need for reliable assessment tools for social anxiety in this population.
Objective:
This scoping review protocol aims to map instruments used to assess social anxiety related to oral communication and public speaking among health sciences students, analyzing their psychometric properties, cultural adaptations, and application contexts.
Methods:
: Following JBI framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a systematic search will be conducted across PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, LILACS, and Web of Science. Eligible studies will include those evaluating social or performance anxiety in undergraduate or postgraduate health sciences students, using validated or culturally adapted instruments. Two independent reviewers will screen studies, with discrepancies resolved by a third. Data extraction will be meticulous, focusing on structural and content variables. Analysis will employ a mixed-methods approach, combining descriptive statistics with thematic synthesis, incorporating psychometric expertise.
Results:
The review is anticipated to provide a detailed mapping of existing assessment instruments, characterizing their methodological particularities, psychometric properties, and cultural adaptation. It will identify significant gaps in validation and applicability, informing future research, supporting evidence-based educational practices, and fostering communicative competence.
Conclusions:
This protocol establishes a transparent and reproducible methodological plan, ensuring scientific rigor by adhering to JBI and PRISMA-ScR standards. It will deepen the understanding of social anxiety assessment in oral communication among health sciences students and aid in developing more effective interventions. Clinical Trial: This protocol has been registered in the OSF Open Science Framework with the following DOI: https://osf.io/yq4km
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Copyright
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