Protocol for a Scoping Review of Digital Scribes in Primary Care: Design, Implementation, Accuracy and Impact

<ns3:p>Background Digital scribes, powered by speech recognition and natural language processing, automate clinical documentation and are increasingly proposed as a solution to documentation burden in general practice. In settings where consultation time is limited and clinical histories are central to diagnostic decision-making, these tools may enhance workflow efficiency, clinician experience and patient-centred outcomes. However, current evidence base is fragmented, with limited synthesis focused on primary care contexts. Aim To systematically map and synthesise the literature on digital scribes in primary care, with particular attention to design, implementation, technical performance, clinical impact, and associated ethical, legal, and regulatory considerations. Methods This scoping review will follow the Arksey and O’Malley methodological framework, as refined by Levac <ns3:italic>et al.</ns3:italic>, and will be reported in accordance with PRISMA-ScR guidelines. A comprehensive search will be conducted across key bibliographic databases and selected grey literature sources. Eligibility criteria will be defined using a modified Population–Concept–Context framework, focusing on digital scribes in primary care and comparable outpatient or community-based settings. Screening and selection will proceed in two stages — title and abstract screening followed by full-text review. Data will be extracted using piloted forms and synthesised across four predefined categories. Synthesis will involve thematic mapping to identify key concepts and gaps in the existing literature, with findings presented in tabular and narrative formats to provide a structured overview of digital scribe technologies in primary care. Implications This review will provide an overview of digital scribe technologies in primary care, highlighting key considerations for design, implementation, accuracy, and clinical impact. Findings will inform developers about technical gaps, guide researchers towards underexplored areas such as patient-facing impacts, and support clinicians in assessing potential benefits for documentation accuracy and workflow efficiency. Policymakers may use the synthesis to clarify regulatory and ethical considerations related to data governance and medico-legal responsibility.</ns3:p>