Information and communication technologies in implementation strategies promoting allied health professionals’ guideline adherence in post-acute stroke care: a scoping review

BACKGROUND: The implementation of clinical guidelines by allied health professionals in post-acute stroke care is often inadequate. Utilization of information and communication technologies (ICTs) as a promising component of guideline implementation strategies remains underexplored. OBJECTIVES: This scoping review aims to identify and map ICTs in implementation strategies for stroke guidelines across health-care settings and professions. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted in MEDLINE Ovid, Embase Ovid, CINAHL, and gray literature sources. Studies were screened and selected through a two-step process by two independent screeners using CADIMA software. ICTs were categorized according to the targeted determinants of practice based on the TICD framework and compared across health-care professions and settings. RESULTS: The 22 included studies implemented 23 guidelines from six countries, with most published in the past 5 years. Multicomponent strategies were used in 86.4% of studies, and 77.3% were tailored to address identified needs and barriers. Web-based learning materials and electronic documents were the most frequently used ICTs. Most of the studies targeted health professionals' factors and resources, while no strategies addressing patient, guideline, and organizational factors were identified from the included literature. CONCLUSIONS: Although existing ICTs extensively support health professionals' factors and available resources, future research should explore the potential of ICTs in targeting patient engagement, organizational or policy factors, while considering contextual circumstances.