Buczkowska Matylda, Herlitz Lauren, Lewis Kate, Nguyen Vincent, Ní Chobhthaigh Sorcha, Muldermans Camelia, Lam Joseph
Institute for Global Health, UCL, London, UK
Social Research Institute IOE - UCL's Faculty of Education and Society, UCL, London, UK.
BMJ Open. 2025 Sep 2;15(9):e106186. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-106186.
Observational studies play a pivotal role in understanding population health trends and informing public health policy. However, many such studies inadequately address dimensions of health inequality, potentially perpetuating existing disparities. There is currently no comprehensive overview of frameworks specifically designed to integrate health-inequality constructs into observational public health research. This protocol outlines the methodology of the scoping review, which aims to identify, describe and critically evaluate existing frameworks that explicitly incorporate health inequalities within observational studies.
We will conduct this scoping review in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews guidelines. Six electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, Global Health and CINAHL) and eligible grey literature sources will be searched using a combination of keywords and subject headings related to health inequalities, observational study design and frameworks. Two independent reviewers will perform title/abstract screening and full-text eligibility assessment using Rayyan, while discrepancies will be resolved by consultation with a third reviewer. Findings will be synthesised narratively.
As this study involves analysis of publicly available literature, formal ethical approval is not required. Results will be disseminated through publication in a peer-reviewed journal, presentations at relevant conferences and communication with key stakeholders in public health and equity research. The results will also be shared directly with charities and local organisations which focus on addressing health inequalities. By providing a comprehensive map of existing frameworks, this review will inform researchers on best practices for embedding health-inequality considerations in observational studies and support the development of more equitable research methodologies.
观察性研究在理解人群健康趋势和为公共卫生政策提供信息方面发挥着关键作用。然而，许多此类研究未能充分解决健康不平等问题，可能会使现有差距长期存在。目前尚无专门设计用于将健康不平等概念纳入观察性公共卫生研究的框架的全面概述。本方案概述了范围综述的方法，旨在识别、描述和批判性评估在观察性研究中明确纳入健康不平等的现有框架。
我们将根据系统评价和Meta分析扩展的首选报告项目（PRISMA-ScR）指南进行本范围综述。将使用与健康不平等、观察性研究设计和框架相关的关键词和主题词组合搜索六个电子数据库（PubMed、Embase、Scopus、Web of Science、Global Health和CINAHL）以及合格的灰色文献来源。两名独立评审员将使用Rayyan进行标题/摘要筛选和全文合格性评估，而分歧将通过与第三名评审员协商解决。研究结果将进行叙述性综合。
由于本研究涉及对公开可用文献的分析，无需正式伦理批准。结果将通过在同行评审期刊上发表、在相关会议上展示以及与公共卫生和公平研究的关键利益相关者沟通来传播。结果还将直接与专注于解决健康不平等问题的慈善机构和地方组织分享。通过提供现有框架的全面图谱，本综述将为研究人员提供在观察性研究中纳入健康不平等考量的最佳实践信息，并支持更公平研究方法的发展。
