Scaffolding learning through gameplay: Digital game-based interventions to enhance clinical leadership in healthcare—A scoping review

Background Effective clinical leadership underpins high-quality patient care, yet clinicians report feeling underprepared because of limited training. Digital game-based interventions (DGBIs) may provide an accessible, scalable approach to clinical leadership development. Methods This scoping review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). The review mapped evidence describing the use of DGBIs to support clinical leadership development among post-graduate healthcare professionals and explored consideration of individual participant characteristics. MEDLINE, Scopus, PsycINFO, and CINAHL were searched on 10th November 2025, with reference lists screened. Results Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria. All addressed competencies relevant to clinical leadership. However, none identified clinical leadership as the primary focus. Consideration of individual participant characteristics was limited. Conclusion DGBIs have been explored to support clinical leadership development among post-graduate healthcare professionals. However, a limited and heterogeneous evidence base, variable intervention characteristics and inconsistent reporting of participant characteristics constrain conclusions regarding reported outcomes.