Emerging concepts and practices in health disparities implementation science in the United States: a scoping review protocol

Abstract

Introduction: Implementation science research increases the uptake of evidence-based interventions, which may improve health equity among racial and ethnic minorities. However, it is unclear how anti-racism and anti-colonialism practices have been integrated into implementation science research. The objectives of this scoping review are to describe the current conceptualisations of racism and colonialism within the USA, examine racism or colonialism-conscious approaches and analyse gaps in the operationalisation of anti-racism or anti-colonialism within implementation science studies.

Methods and analysis: This scoping review will be conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses extension for scoping reviews guidelines. The Center for Chronic Disease Reduction and Equity Promotion Across Minnesota conceptual framework and an implementation science anti-racism lens will guide the study design and analysis. To determine study eligibility for the scoping review, articles will undergo abstract and full-text screening by two independent reviewers and discrepancies will be settled together. Data charting will be extracted from included articles by eight independent reviewers. The search strategy will use controlled vocabulary and natural language keywords related to health equity, health disparities and anti-racism/colonialism on six databases. The scoping review will include studies that applied implementation science theories, models or frameworks among US-based populations. Additionally, included studies will report any of the following implementation activities: implementation strategies, implementation outcomes, adaptations to evidence-based interventions, or evaluations of pre-implementation or implementation context.

Ethics and dissemination: No ethical approval was required for the scoping review. Dissemination will be through publication in a peer-reviewed journal and conference presentations.

Keywords: Health Equity; Implementation Science; Review.

Figure 1. C2DREAM conceptual framework. This framework was applied to conceptualising the study scope and primary research questions developed by Orakwue et al. C2DREAM, Center for Chronic Disease Reduction and Equity Promotion Across Minnesota.