Integrated Rehabilitation Services for Children and Young People with ABI: a scoping review protocol

This scoping review aims to map the existing literature on integrated rehabilitation for children and young people (CYP) with acquired brain injury (ABI), focusing on definitions, models, implementation strategies, and evaluation of approaches. ABI is a leading cause of acquired disability in CYP globally. Integrated rehabilitation services are widely acknowledged as essential for supporting recovery and participation; however, practical implementation remains poorly understood. Synthesized evidence regarding the definition, delivery, and evaluation of integrated rehabilitation for CYP with ABI is limited. The objective of this scoping review protocol is to map the extent, range, and nature of evidence on integrated rehabilitation for children and young people with acquired brain injury, focusing on conceptualisation, implementation, and evaluation across health, community, and educational settings. All study designs published from 2010 onwards will be included. This review will follow the methodology of the Joanna Briggs Institute. An initial limited search for the identified key terms was conducted. The search strategy will be adapted for each database (PubMed, PsychINFO, CINAHL Plus, and COCHRANE Database of Systematic Reviews), and reference lists of selected sources will be screened. A draft data extraction tool will be refined iteratively. Two reviewers will conduct screening and extraction, with a third reviewer resolving discrepancies. Findings will be presented using a PRISMA-ScR flow diagram and charted data will be synthesized quantitatively and qualitatively. This synthesis will provide a structured overview of the evidence base of integrated rehabilitation for CYP with ABI, identify knowledge gaps, and inform future research. This may support the understanding of how health systems can enable child- and family centred, co-ordinated, rights-based, and outcome-focused rehabilitation following paediatric ABI.