Barriers and facilitators to oral nutrition intake in hospitalised adult patients following critical illness: A scoping review protocol

Summary Background & aims Nutrition following liberation of mechanical ventilation and throughout acute hospitalisation may be important in aiding recovery. While oral nutrition is the most common mode of nutrition provision in this time period, it is unclear what factors influence oral nutrition intake due to limited research in the area to date. This article outlines the methods for a scoping review to explore and collate reported barriers and facilitators to oral nutrition intake in patients following liberation of mechanical ventilation. Methods A scoping review will be conducted, and the following databases searched: MEDLINE, Embase, Emcare, and CINAHL. Grey literature, including but not limited to conference abstracts and theses will be searched for via ProQuest, Scopus, Web of Science and PsychInfo. Study selection, data extraction and data charting will be conducted by two reviewers. Data will be synthesised into figures and tables, with the COM-B framework providing a structure for grouping themes and findings. Included literature will comprise of primary research studies, reviews and grey literature from 2000 onward, that include critically ill adult patients who have been recruited in an ICU, received a therapy usually delivered in ICU, or had an average length of ICU stay greater than or equal to two days. Studies that report the presence of oral nutrition-related barriers or facilitators following liberation of mechanical ventilation will be considered for inclusion.