Prehabilitation for individuals awaiting heart transplantation: a scoping review

This research project is a rigorous scoping review designed to systematically map and synthesise the existing evidence base on prehabilitation programs targeting individuals awaiting heart transplantation. The primary purpose is to provide a comprehensive, structured overview of the current literature, defining the breadth, nature, and extent of single and multi-modal prehabilitation research in this population, with the core research question focusing on the feasibility, acceptability, and characteristics of these programs. Expected outcomes include the creation of an evidence map detailing research activity and trends, the standardisation of intervention components within a Table of Evidence to clarify heterogeneity in current practice, and the synthesis of feasibility and acceptability profiles to inform clinical implementation. Furthermore, the project will explicitly identify critical research gaps through the reporting of missing data and quality assessment findings, translating these into a prioritised Future Research Agenda. Ultimately, this work is intended to provide clinicians, researchers, and policy-makers with a robust foundation for developing evidence-based, multi-modal prehabilitation protocols that are both effective and practical for improving outcomes in individuals awaiting heart transplantation.