Scoping review: potentialities for a synthesis of methodologies used in qualitative primary research

Abstract

Scoping reviews have global expression in the heal-th area; they are meant to scrutinize types of research, how and by whom they were performed among other unknown categories. Objectives: To describe the process of developing a scoping re-view of a methodological nature that gathered qualitative primary studies; and to analyze particularities of this type of review. Me-thod: Experience report, which was referenced in the PRISMA-ScR review report guide, describing the empirical lessons learned in the development of a scoping review which mapped the use of action research in health. Results: The PCC mnemonic was adap-ted, being the concept C decomposed into participation, knowled-ge production and transformation of practices, the three principles of action research. These principles were included as categories in the instrument of data extraction, whose elaboration is one of the major challenges in this type of review. The review mapped “how” evidence from action research are produced and proved potent to systematically expose the theoretical-methodological frameworks of the primary studies examined, from rigorous application of the steps. Conclusion: The PRISMA-ScR extension was detailed and aligned with the guide of the Joanna Briggs Institute, constituting a fundamental instrument for the transparency and reliability of this type of review.