A Scoping Review of Virtual Communities of Practice in Healthcare Education: Protocol

Abstract

This scoping review, building upon the foundational work of Shaw et al. and others, seeks to provide a more robust and current description of how vCoPs have been implemented in the education and training of health professionals, especially since the pandemic, as well as explore the technological tools and approaches utilized and the outcomes achieved. Our approach to extracting and synthesizing the evidence are grounded tightly in CoP principles (e.g. 3-mode of identification and Value Creation framework). By doing so, it aims to offer valuable insights for educators and program developers, enabling them to tailor educational and training initiatives to meet the unique needs of their learning communities. In summary, this review endeavors to map the current landscape of vCoPs in the education and training of health professionals, identifying key trends, challenges, and opportunities for future research and practice.