Concepts and definitions

Defining and understanding access to healthcare can be challenging and complex.21 There are varying interpretations of the term ‘access’ across the literature.21 30 Often the term access has been used to describe characteristics of services at the initial point of contact or the ability for healthcare-seeking individuals to make that initial point of contact.30 This view is largely individualised and fails to recognise the complexity of accessing appropriate healthcare.20 22 30 Further, such views largely ignore the holistic views of Indigenous peoples.20 22

A conceptualised framework defining access, which incorporates a patient-centred perspective of access, has been developed by Levesque et al.30 The framework defines access as "the opportunity to reach and obtain appropriate healthcare services, in situations of perceived need of care".30 This considers the characteristics of the health systems, the characteristics of the populations that seek healthcare, and the processes and pathways that link the two sides so that access is achieved.21 30

For this scoping review, we will use Levesque et al’s30 framework to define and conceptualise access to injury and rehabilitation services. The framework (see figure 1) depicts dimensions of access and healthcare use, along two parallel sides: the supply side of the healthcare system, and the population who seek access to healthcare services. There are five dimensions that correspond to the supply of care and access by the healthcare system: (1) approachability, (2) acceptability, (3) availability and accommodation, (4) affordability, and (5) appropriateness.30 The framework also includes five dimensions corresponding to the characteristics of the population seeking access to healthcare. These dimensions include (1) ability to perceive, (2) ability to seek, (3) ability to reach, (4) ability to pay, and (5) ability to engage.30 The combined dimensions are not independent and therefore influence each other.30 This framework lends itself to investigating the cause of inequities at the individual level, but also at system and structural levels.

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Figure 1

Conceptual framework of access to healthcare (reproduced from Levesque et al30).

To understand the available literature regarding the barriers and facilitators to accessing injury-related healthcare for Māori in New Zealand and other Indigenous populations globally, we will conduct a scoping review. A scoping review was deemed the most appropriate method to identify available literature and "map the literature on a particular topic or research area and provide an opportunity to identify key concepts; gaps in the research".31 32 Scoping reviews, unlike systematic reviews, do not require the appraisal or synthesis of the review findings.32 33 Therefore, a scoping review allows for the inclusion of a broad range of study designs, from both the published and grey literature, while still employing a standardised and rigorous process.32 33

The protocol outlined for this scoping review will be guided by the scoping review framework developed by Arksey and O’Malley,32 and the framework update outlined by Levac et al.31 Specifically, the framework sets out six stages to follow during a scoping review: (1) identifying the research question, (2) identifying the relevant literature, (3) study selection, (4) charting the data, (5) collating, summarising and reposting the findings, and (6) consultation.31 32

Further, this project is underpinned by Kaupapa Māori principles,34 35 putting Māori views and realities at the centre of the research; it is research ‘by Māori, with Māori, for Māori’.34 35

Stage 1: defining the research questions

The research questions guiding our scoping review were developed through a collaborative approach with the research team and the Māori advisory group. Two research questions have been developed to guide the search of the published and grey literatures separately. We are interested in scoping the available published literature pertaining to the barriers and facilitators of accessing injury and rehabilitation care for Māori and other Indigenous populations. We have limited the grey literature search to Māori only as we are specifically interested in the policies, structures and systems that influence healthcare access for injured Māori in New Zealand.

Stage 2: identifying relevant studies

Separate search strategies will be developed to comprehensively search both the empirical literature and the grey literature to address our research questions. Identifying relevant literature in this scoping review will include four steps.

An initial search by a single reviewer, in collaboration with a subject librarian from the University of Otago, has been conducted in MEDLINE (Ovid). Keywords, text words, Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms, index terms, titles and abstracts were analysed to identify relevant search terms and keywords for the development of an appropriate search strategy for all databases included in this scoping review. The identified terms were then reviewed by the wider research team, and the search strategy was finalised. Second, a search using all identified keywords appropriate to each database relevant to this review was conducted (see table 1 for MEDLINE search strategy; see online supplemental file 1 for Scopus and Embase search strategies). Third, the reference lists and ‘cited by’ function will be used to search for any other relevant studies for inclusion. Lastly, our advisory group will be asked to identify additional relevant literature for inclusion in this review.

The databases to be searched to identify empirical literature will include MEDLINE (Ovid), Scopus, Embase, CINAHL Complete and Cochrane library. In addition, Google, New Zealand government websites and relevant non-government organisations and other organisations’ websites identified through our own networks and collaboration with our advisors will be searched to identify relevant grey literature. Searches will be limited to studies published in the English language, open-access journals and those that include adults (18 years and above). For the grey literature, searches will be further limited to literature published from the year 2000 to present.

Stage 3: study selection

The search strategy outlined previously will be conducted by a single researcher. All identified literature will be exported into Endnote V.X8.2; duplicated studies will be removed; and the Endnote library will be shared with a second reviewer. Titles, abstracts and full texts will be independently screened for eligibility for the data extraction (stage 4). An initial pilot of the screening process for 5–10 studies, using the subsequent criteria, will be conducted. Then, the remaining screening and study selection process will be completed by two researchers independently and compared. Where there are inconsistencies, a third researcher will be consulted. A University of Otago subject librarian will be consulted if difficulties arise. Once completed, the final number of studies included for data extraction will be revealed. The study selection process will be summarised and reported using a Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) chart and PRIMSA extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR).36 The inclusion and exclusion criteria for both the published and grey literature are further discussed.

Stage 4: data extraction and charting

A data extraction sheet and charting guidelines will be developed collaboratively by the research team, guided by the access framework and the scoping review research questions. Once finalised, the data extraction sheet will be piloted, as described previously.

Data extraction and charting will be a two-step process. First, descriptive details of each study will be recorded in a pre-defined extraction chart in Microsoft Excel v.16. Second, all sources will be imported into qualitative data management software, NVivo.37 Studies will be analysed and coded using the pre-defined coding guideline.30 Any additional codes will be discussed and agreed by the two researchers.

Further, data extraction, including the pre-defined extraction chart and NVivo coding, will adhere to the criteria that are set out in the Consolidated Criteria for Strengthening Reporting of Health Research Involving Indigenous Peoples: The (CONSIDER) Statement, developed by Huria et al.38 The Statement includes a checklist of eight domains, comprising seven criteria for the ‘strengthening the reporting of health research involving Indigenous peoples’, and aiding the ‘advancement of Indigenous health outcomes and development’.38 The domains include: (1) research governance, (2) prioritisation, (3) relationships with Indigenous stakeholders and research team, (4) methodologies, (5) participation, (6) capacity, (7) analysis and interpretation, and (8) dissemination. Additionally, we will include further details of how this Statement has informed the different stages of the scoping review in the manuscript that presents the scoping review findings.

Once data extraction and charting are completed, findings will be compared, and the wider research team will be consulted where there are discrepancies.

Stage 5: collating, summarising and reporting findings

The aim of this scoping review is to map the existing literature and to summarise the findings presented across the studies included in the review. The extracted data will be presented according to the different dimensions of the access framework.30 A descriptive summary of all included studies, as well as a narrative summary of the findings and how these relate to the reviews’ aims and research questions, will also accompany the data presented.

Further, the scoping review, particularly the collating and reporting of results, will be informed by Kaupapa Māori research principles, as well as the CONSIDER statement.38 Kaupapa Māori is a methodology which privileges Māori "voices and perspectives, methodologies and analysis, whereby Māori realities are seen as legitimate"39 (p.50). As with the CONSIDER statement, we will include further details of how these research principles informed the different stages of the scoping review in the manuscript that presents the actual scoping review findings.

Stage 6: consultation

Scoping reviews can be enhanced if practitioners and consumers contribute to the work.31 32 While encouraged, but optional, in the Arksey and O’Malley methodology,32 it is a fundamental component of kaupapa Māori research,34 35 and the CONSIDER statement and checklist,38 and will be included in this scoping review. Specifically, this scoping review is supported by an advisory group, with members from a range of organisations with a wealth of expertise relating to Māori health, health services, injury and rehabilitation. To date, the advisory group has been consulted to discuss the scoping review aims, strategy and search terms. The advisory group will continued to be consulted throughout the scoping review stages.