A systematic scoping review of facilitators and barriers of recovery college implementation

BACKGROUND: In 2009, the first recovery college (RC) was established in England, and has since been established and implemented in various countries worldwide. Although literature exists on the effects and benefits of RCs, there has yet to be a systematic examination of their implementation experiences. AIM: This scoping review provides an overview of the facilitators and barriers to the implementation of RCs. METHOD: A comprehensive search was conducted across CINAHL, ProQuest Dissertations, PubMed, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science, targeting English-language publications from January 2000 to August 2025. RESULTS: The scoping review identified and examined 43 studies. Facilitators included: (1) regular operation considerations; (2) considerations for effective co-creation; (3) continued development; (4) importance of visibility. Barriers included: (1) management challenges; (2) logistical challenges; (3) course implementation difficulties; (4) misalignment of RC principles. CONCLUSION: We highlight issues in RCs' everyday operations and emphasize the need for them to adopt a flexible, adaptable stance. However, several areas of research require greater attention, including RC hiring practices, policies for continued development, and research on RCs from Asian and non-Western perspectives.