Barriers and Facilitators Affecting Access to Health Care for People With Syphilis: Protocol for a Scoping Review

Overview

Journal JMIR Res Protoc

Publisher JMIR Publications

Specialty General Medicine

Date 2024 Nov 15

PMID 39547659

Authors

Rafaela Bezerra Facanha Correia

Rafaela Prudlik Mourad

Janmilli da Costa Dantas

Richardson Augusto Rosendo da Silva

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Syphilis is a systemic, preventable, and curable infection caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. Despite being treatable, syphilis continues to have a high incidence, with a resurgence observed even in countries with strong health surveillance systems. This highlights the need to understand the various strategies used globally to improve access to care for individuals with syphilis.

Objective: This scoping review aims to identify and map the barriers and facilitators affecting access to health care for people with syphilis.

Methods: This scoping review will follow the methodology outlined by the Joanna Briggs Institute. The search will be conducted across several databases, including PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, LILACS (Virtual Health Library), and CINAHL (EBSCO). In addition, sources of unpublished studies or gray literature will be explored. Studies focusing on access to health care for individuals with syphilis will be included, regardless of geographic location, country, or language. Two independent reviewers will assess the results, and data will be extracted using a tool specifically developed for this review. The extracted quantitative data will be presented in tables and analyzed using descending hierarchical classification, represented by a class dendrogram. Barriers and facilitators will be categorized into dimensions of access.

Results: Database searching began in October 2024. Full-text screening and review are expected to be completed in December 2024. Data extraction and analysis are expected to be completed by February 2025, and the final report will be completed in March 2025.

Conclusions: The findings of this scoping review, guided by this protocol, will elucidate the main barriers and facilitators that affect access to syphilis treatment. This study may contribute to the practices of health professionals, managers, and the academic community, and provide relevant information for the population.

Trial Registration: Open Science Framework Registries osf.io/kpsab; https://osf.io/kpsab.

International Registered Report Identifier (irrid): PRR1-10.2196/63561.

References

Liberati A, Altman D, Tetzlaff J, Mulrow C, Gotzsche P, Ioannidis J . The PRISMA statement for reporting systematic reviews and meta-analyses of studies that evaluate health care interventions: explanation and elaboration. PLoS Med. 2009; 6(7):e1000100. PMC: 2707010. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1000100. View

Komori A, Mori H, Xie W, Valenti S, Naito T . Rapid resurgence of syphilis in Japan after the COVID-19 pandemic: A descriptive study. PLoS One. 2024; 19(3):e0298288. PMC: 10971634. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298288. View

Aday L, Andersen R . A framework for the study of access to medical care. Health Serv Res. 1974; 9(3):208-20. PMC: 1071804. View

El-Sadr W, Platt J, Bernitz M, Reyes M . Contact Tracing: Barriers and Facilitators. Am J Public Health. 2022; 112(7):1025-1033. PMC: 9222465. DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2022.306842. View

Tricco A, Lillie E, Zarin W, OBrien K, Colquhoun H, Levac D . PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR): Checklist and Explanation. Ann Intern Med. 2018; 169(7):467-473. DOI: 10.7326/M18-0850. View

Bond S, Chen M . The resurgence of congenital syphilis in Australia: novel approaches and sustained, effective public health efforts are required. Med J Aust. 2024; 221(4):195-196. DOI: 10.5694/mja2.52393. View

Souza M, Wall M, Thuler A, Lowen I, Peres A . The use of IRAMUTEQ software for data analysis in qualitative research. Rev Esc Enferm USP. 2018; 52:e03353. DOI: 10.1590/S1980-220X2017015003353. View

Jones A, Manasyan A, Xue Y, Kapesa H, Mwendafilumba K, Nalwamba L . Benzathine penicillin G stockouts and other barriers to documented syphilis treatment in pregnancy in Zambia. PLoS One. 2024; 19(6):e0304576. PMC: 11146727. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304576. View

Panchenko S, Gabster A, Mayaud P, Erausquin J . Sexual health challenges in migrant, immigrant, and displaced populations 2022-2023. Curr Opin Infect Dis. 2023; 37(1):46-52. DOI: 10.1097/QCO.0000000000000990. View

10.

Watt N, Sigfrid L, Legido-Quigley H, Hogarth S, Maimaris W, Otero-Garcia L . Health systems facilitators and barriers to the integration of HIV and chronic disease services: a systematic review. Health Policy Plan. 2017; 32(suppl_4):iv13-iv26. PMC: 5886067. DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czw149. View

11.

Pham M, Rajic A, Greig J, Sargeant J, Papadopoulos A, McEwen S . A scoping review of scoping reviews: advancing the approach and enhancing the consistency. Res Synth Methods. 2015; 5(4):371-85. PMC: 4491356. DOI: 10.1002/jrsm.1123. View

12.

Cu A, Meister S, Lefebvre B, Ridde V . Assessing healthcare access using the Levesque's conceptual framework- a scoping review. Int J Equity Health. 2021; 20(1):116. PMC: 8103766. DOI: 10.1186/s12939-021-01416-3. View

13.

Levac D, Colquhoun H, OBrien K . Scoping studies: advancing the methodology. Implement Sci. 2010; 5:69. PMC: 2954944. DOI: 10.1186/1748-5908-5-69. View

14.

Fowler J, Warzywoda S, Nourse C, Wu M, Britton S, Rowling D . Barriers to optimal management of syphilis in pregnancy and congenital syphilis in south-east Queensland: a qualitative investigation. Sex Health. 2023; 20(6):506-513. DOI: 10.1071/SH23119. View

15.

Mocelin H, Jezus S, Negri L, Borges B, Silva A, Maciel E . [Barriers and facilitators to confronting HIV/aids and syphilis experienced by Venezuelan women living in BrazilFactores facilitadores y barreras que tienen las mujeres venezolanas residentes en Brasil respecto de la infección por el VIH/sida y la...]. Rev Panam Salud Publica. 2023; 47:e3. PMC: 9910314. DOI: 10.26633/RPSP.2023.3. View

16.

Levesque J, Harris M, Russell G . Patient-centred access to health care: conceptualising access at the interface of health systems and populations. Int J Equity Health. 2013; 12:18. PMC: 3610159. DOI: 10.1186/1475-9276-12-18. View

17.

Domingues C, Duarte G, Passos M, Sztajnbok D, Menezes M . Brazilian Protocol for Sexually Transmitted Infections, 2020: congenital syphilis and child exposed to syphilis. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop. 2021; 54(suppl 1):e2020597. PMC: 8210493. DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-597-2020. View

18.

Lafeta K, Martelli Junior H, Silveira M, Paranaiba L . Maternal and congenital syphilis, underreported and difficult to control. Rev Bras Epidemiol. 2016; 19(1):63-74. DOI: 10.1590/1980-5497201600010006. View

19.

Hackett C, Frank L, Heldt-Werle L, Loosier P . Provider-Reported Barriers in Sexual Health Care Services for Women With Upstream Barriers: The Case of Syphilis and Congenital Syphilis in Southern Colorado, 2022. Sex Transm Dis. 2024; 51(5):337-341. PMC: 11018457. DOI: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000001936. View

20.

Warzywoda S, Fowler J, Nourse C, Wu M, Britton S, Rowling D . Syphilis in pregnancy: a qualitative investigation of healthcare provider perspectives on barriers to syphilis screening during pregnancy in south-east Queensland. Sex Health. 2023; 20(4):330-338. DOI: 10.1071/SH22193. View