For this study, a scoping review methodology was used. Eligible articles were identified using the framework developed by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) adopted from the work by Arksey and O’Malley (2005)(Peters, M.D. et al., 2015:146) that guide literature review in the relevance of inclusion criteria. This framework is ideal for collecting, evaluating and presenting the available research evidence to answer broad topics where many different study designs might be applicable(Arksey, H. and O'Malley, L., 2005:23). The framework has five stages consisting of the following: 1) identifying the research question, 2) identifying relevant studies, 3) study selection. 4) charting the data, and 5) collating, summarizing, and reporting the results(Arksey, H. and O'Malley, L., 2005:22). Undertaking a scoping review for conducting literature report provides rigor such that the study can be replicable thereby increasing reliability of the findings.
Step 1: identifying the research question.
The research question of the study is the key starting point (Anderson, S. et al., 2008:2). In this study, the researcher seeks to understand the principles of TB-IPC policy development in healthcare settings, particularly in the South African context. The objective of this review is to identify, appraise and synthesize the evidence on the role of healthcare personnel in policy development in healthcare settings. It is imperative to understand if HCP working in the healthcare settings are involved in TB- IPC policy development.
2) identifying relevant studies
The author reviewed the tittles and the abstract for the records meeting the criteria based on the research question. Electronic versions of the potentially eligible records were retried. Further screening of the full text was conducted. Articles were read repeatedly and applied the exclusion criteria to reach to the 12 records that were included in the review. Articles were assessed and chosen based on their relevance to the research question rather than methodological rigour. A PRISMA flow diagram giving a detailed account of the strategy used is viewable in in Fig. 1.
Concept
For this review, a literature scoping review, an increasingly adopted approach for reviewing evidence from health-related research was adopted for reviewing evidence on primary research on TB-IPC in healthcare settings.
Content and design
Studies peer reviewed and written in English were included in this review. There was no restriction on date published considering that there is paucity of evidence in this area of research involving HCP in decision making. Exclusion criteria included review studies, editorials, commentaries, study protocols, conference abstracts, perspective pieces. Sources included electronic databases, reference lists, and hand searching of key journals.
Search strategy: A comprehensive search was carried out in three electronic databases: CINAHL, SCOPUS, and PubMed (NLM). This literature search was performed in the period from November -December 2022. Key search terms (Tuberculosis AND “infection control” AND Policies*AND Process* AND Manual* AND Development AND Healthcare workers*) were used, and different combinations were searched both individually and together. The combination of search terms used are illustrated in Table 1. In addition, studies were searched through cross-referencing and snowballing. Duplicate records were removed before screening process.
Table 1
Searches by keywords and documents selection
Search word/terms: "( tuberculosis or tb ) AND ( infection control or infection prevention ) AND Policies* AND healthcare workers*" |
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Database | Limiters Applied |
MEDLINE | Scholarly (Peer Reviewed) Journals; Linked Full Text; Date of Publication: 20180101–20231231; Abstract Available |
CINAHL | Linked Full Text; Abstract Available; Published Date: 20180101–20221231; English Language; Peer Reviewed; Research Article; Exclude MEDLINE records |
SCOPUS | Scholarly (Peer Reviewed) Journals; Linked Full Text; Date of Publication: 20180101–20231231; Abstract Available |
3) study selection
Searches for the three data bases were imported into EndNote ™20, Clarivate Analytics, US (The EndNote Team, 2013) A group set of the total records from the data bases was created. The next step was to create subgroups of records corresponding to the Prisma flow chart as shown in Fig. 1. Eligible titles and topics were screened after removing all the duplicate records followed by full text screening ending with records included in for review. Inclusion and exclusion decisions were confirmed at all stages by the second author (T.S.M).
4) and 5) Charting the data, collating, summarizing, and reporting the results
Studies included in this review provided insight into the conceptualization and development of TB-IPC guidelines and programmes seeking to improve TB-IPC in high burden countries- implementation and voices of implementers. This primary research that sought to understanding what happening at the operational level and to identify suggested strategies to deliver sustainable services. The scoping review methodology allows for inclusion of grey literature and other sources relevant however, for this review only peer reviewed evidence was included to gain evidence base of the phenomenon. Information retrieved from the identified articles included study characteristics( Author, year, Country, title, aim, methodology) study characteristics(Healthcare personnel inclusion in the policy/guideline conceptualization),a description of the role of HCP, study outcomes, and brief study findings. The goal of the conducting a scoping review is to provide an overview of the available literature to answer the research question, as such all peer- reviewed studies were included regardless of quality assessment (Peters, M.D. et al., 2015). Information of the role of the HCP were summarized(Levac, D. et al., 2010).
Table 1: Searches by keywords and documents selection
Figure 1: PRISMA flow diagram of study selection and inclusion process