Barriers and facilitators to engaging in the practice of medical assistance in dying among providers in Canada: a scoping review protocol

Abstract

Introduction:The number of MAiD requests in Canada is growing steadily and is predicted to continue to grow with the passing of Bill C-7 in 2021, which expands access to individuals whose deaths are not reasonably foreseeable. Under federal law, physicians and nurse practitioners are the only health care professionals permitted to assess for and administer MAiD. Providers are not obligated to engage in the practice of MAiD; therefore, patient access relies on providers' readiness to engage in the practice. More information is needed to understand the barriers and facilitators for engaging in MAiD care from the perspective of providers.Inclusion criteria: This review will consider studies that identify physicians, nurse practitioners, and medical residents' perceived barriers and facilitators for engaging in the practice of MAiD in Canada. Physicians, nurse practitioners, and medical residents who do not directly administer MAiD, including those who identify as conscientious objectors or non-participants, will be included. Studies looking at barriers and facilitators for providing MAiD care to individuals with dementia, mental illness, or for individuals under the age of 18 years will be excluded.Methods: MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL with Full-text, and APA PsycINFO will be searched. Studies will be screened and data extracted by 2 independent reviewers using a tool created for this review. The scoping review findings will be presented in a narrative format and mapped in tables to address the review aims.

Mapping the landscape of medical assistance in dying through exploring barriers and facilitators among providers in Canada

“…These observed statistical trends compelled the authors to explore the factors influencing providers to engage in this relatively new medical practice. Our scoping review protocol 7 in this issue of JBI Evidence Synthesis outlines the objectives, methods, and reporting procedures for the review’s question: What are the perceived barriers and facilitators for engaging in the practice of MAiD for physicians, NPs, and medical residents in Canada? Our comprehensive review will offer valuable insights to better understand the motivations and challenges faced by providers capable of providing MAiD within different contexts.…”