Requirements for the development of data management plan templates and tools: a scoping review protocol

Background: Although the FAIR Data Principles have guided international efforts to improve research data management, significant gaps still exist between the technical and social dimensions of their implementation in health-related contexts. Objective: This scoping review protocol aims to identify and synthesize the requirements for developing Data Management Plan (DMP) templates and DMP tools that are interoperable with data repositories, aligning them with the FAIR Principles and the researchers’ practical needs. Methods: This protocol follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) and the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines for scoping reviews. Searches will be conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, LILACS, and BRAPCI databases alongside regional and grey literature sources. Eligible studies will include literature addressing conceptual, technical, or sociotechnical aspects of DMP templates, DMP tools, and interoperability with research data repositories. Data will be charted thematically and synthesized through a narrative approach. Eligibility criteria: Established using the Population, Concept, and Context (PCC) framework. The population comprises stakeholders involved in health research data management, including researchers, librarians, repository managers, data curators, and system developers. The core concept examines requirements for DMP templates, technical tools, and the semantic and technical interoperability between DMP systems and research data repositories. The context encompasses academic and scientific environments in high- and middle-income countries that emphasize Open Science and FAIR principles. Studies conducted exclusively in private commercial sectors or focusing solely on clinical data management unrelated to research infrastructures are excluded. Expected Outcomes: The review will identify existing approaches and gaps in the development of FAIR-aligned DMP templates and interoperable DMP tools, designed to connect with other research information systems, particularly data repositories. The findings are expected to provide an evidence base for developing a sociotechnical model that promotes sustainable, interoperable, and FAIR-oriented health data infrastructures. This scoping review protocol is registered in the Open Science Framework (OSF)