Exploring the use of self-management strategies in survivors of critical illness: A scoping review protocol.

INTRODUCTION: Survivors of critical illness often experience lasting physical, cognitive, and mental health impairments that persist beyond hospital discharge. While self-management strategies have demonstrated benefits in many chronic conditions, their application in survivors of critical illness remains limited. With no current synthesis of the literature, there is an increasing need to understand and optimize self-management strategies in this population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a protocol for a scoping review which will systematically map the literature on self-management strategies used with adult survivors of critical illness. Following Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines and reported according to PRISMA-ScR, this review will include peer-reviewed studies involving ICU survivors (≥24-hour admission) that employ self-management strategies, such as education, peer support, and coping skills, and report patient-centered outcomes. A comprehensive search of MEDLINE, Embase, Emcare, CINAHL, PsycINFO, and AMED will be conducted from inception. Two independent reviewers will screen studies, extract data, and resolve disagreements with a third reviewer, if needed. Data will be summarized with descriptive statistics and narrative synthesis.

CONCLUSION: The results of this scoping review will summarize the available evidence on the use of self-management strategies in survivors of critical illness, identify knowledge gaps, and inform future research and clinical practice. A manuscript will be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at critical care conferences.