Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder resources for health professionals: a scoping review protocol

Josephine Chidinma Okurame; Lisa Cannon; Emily Carter; Sue Thomas; Elizabeth J Elliott; Lauren J Rice

doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2022-065327

Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder resources for health professionals: a scoping review protocol

BMJ Open. 2022 Sep 13;12(9):e065327. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-065327.

Authors

Josephine Chidinma Okurame¹, Lisa Cannon^{2

3}, Emily Carter⁴, Sue Thomas⁴, Elizabeth J Elliott^{2

5}, Lauren J Rice²

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia josephine.agu@sydney.edu.au.
² Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
³ Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia.
⁴ Marulu Unit, Marninwarntikura Women's Resource Centre, Fitzroy Crossing, Kimberley, Australia.
⁵ Kids Research, The Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia.

Abstract

Introduction: People with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) encounter a range of health and allied health providers and require specialised support to ensure health services are provided safely and effectively. Not all health professionals possess the knowledge or expertise required for the identification, assessment, referral and management of FASD. Accessible resources for understanding and managing FASD can help create awareness in health professionals and ensure patients receive the correct diagnosis and timely access to the necessary supports and services. The aim of this scoping review is to identify and analyse FASD resources for health professionals.

Methods and analysis: A comprehensive search of eight databases (MEDLINE, Scopus, PsycINFO, CINAHL, PubMED, EMBASE, Web of Science and Trip Medical Database) and nine grey literature databases (FASD Hub, NOFASD Australia, National Organisation for FASD, FASD United, HealthInfoNet, Proof Alliance, Child Family Community Australia, Foundation for Alcohol Research & Education and the Australian Department of Health websites) will be conducted using three search engines including PubMed, Ovid and Google advanced search (search dates: October 2021 to May 2022). Consultations will also be carried out with international and national experts in the diagnosis/management of FASD to obtain any additional relevant published or unpublished resources. Inclusion criteria were developed to guide the selection of resources that are publicly available, primarily focused on FASD and curated for health professionals for the identification, management or referral of FASD. Critical appraisal process will be executed using the Appraisal of Guidelines for REsearch & Evaluation II (AGREE II) tool to assess the quality of selected resources.

Ethics and dissemination: Ethical approval is not required for the scoping review. Scoping review results will be presented at relevant national and international conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals. Search results will be made available to ensure reproducibility and transparency.

Keywords: community child health; fetal medicine; medical education & training.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Australia
Child
Female
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders* / diagnosis
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders* / therapy
Gray Literature
Health Personnel
Humans
Pregnancy
Reproducibility of Results
Review Literature as Topic