Adult stroke survivor’s reintegration to normal living: a scoping review protocol

BACKGROUND: To the best of our knowledge, a scoping review of the published literature investigating the determinants of adult stroke survivors’ reintegration to normal living has not been conducted. This scoping review aims to critically review the evidence investigating reintegration to normal living following a stroke. The following questions on reintegration to normal living after stroke will pivot this review: (i) what factors are associated with returning to normal living of stroke survivors? (ii) what are the overall determinants of reintegration to normal living of stroke survivors? To fully understand these questions, we also ask, how is reintegration to normal living assessed throughout stroke literature? METHODS: A scoping review will be conducted based on the methodology presented by Arksey and O’Malley and extended by Levac and colleagues. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis extension for scoping reviews (PRISMA-ScR) was adopted to develop the protocol. This study will include studies involving participants ≥ 18 years old, who are stroke survivors reintegrating to normal living in the community. With no time limitations, English language publications and all study designs reporting on reintegration to normal living of stroke survivors’ will be sourced. The abstract and full-text screening will be conducted by two independent reviewers, including data charting. Thematic analysis will be used to align relevant themes and will be presented in a narrative. DISCUSSION: We anticipate that the scoping review will highlight the available resources and evidence on factors that determine reintegration to normal living of stroke survivors. This may contribute to informed empirical evidence for rehabilitation professionals to enhance the functional recovery of stroke survivors. It may also reveal other areas for research into reintegration to normal living for stroke survivors. SCOPING REVIEW REGISTRATION: The protocol has been registered prospectively on the Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/36tuz/).