Navigation of Dual Identities Among Health Care Professionals Transitioning Between Clinical Practice and Research Roles: Scoping Review Protocol

Background: The transition from clinical practice to research represents a significant yet under-studied career pivot for health care professionals. Despite the growing emphasis on research integration in health care careers and increasing numbers of clinicians pursuing advanced research degrees, the transition experience remains poorly understood. This protocol outlines a scoping review aimed at examining the nuanced experiences of clinicians moving between full-time clinical practice and research roles, exploring the challenges, adjustments, and impacts on professional identity, decision-making, and career trajectories. Objective: This scoping review aims to systematically map and synthesize existing literature on health care professionals' experiences in transitioning between clinical practice and research roles. Methods: This scoping review will follow the JBI methodology for scoping reviews and validated frameworks. Comprehensive searches will be conducted across 8 databases: PubMed, Ovid, Scopus, Embase, CINAHL, PsycInfo, Sage Journals, and Web of Science. Studies will be eligible for inclusion if they (1) focus on health care professionals providing direct patient care (physicians, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, dieticians, and other allied health professionals), and medical students, (2) examine transitions between clinical practice and research roles, (3) report empirical data, and (4) are published in English from 1980 onward. Two independent reviewers (SA-T and CK) will screen titles, abstracts, and full texts. A rigorous data extraction tool will be developed and piloted. Qualitative thematic analysis will be used to synthesize findings. Results: This protocol was registered with the Open Science Framework in January 2024. This scoping review will be conducted as part of SAT's MD (doctor of medicine, University College Dublin, commenced July 2023) conducted at the National Maternity Hospital. As of January 2026, pilot database searches identified approximately 3000 potentially relevant studies. Preliminary analysis of a subset of randomly chosen studies was performed as a pilot test to refine the search strategy and inclusion or exclusion criteria. Full data collection will commence following protocol acceptance, with complete results expected to be submitted for publication in 2026. Conclusions: By synthesizing existing knowledge on clinical-research transitions, this review will aim to inform evidence-based support mechanisms, guide institutional policies, and enhance the training experience for the growing number of health care professionals navigating this career pathway. The findings will provide a foundation for a larger mixed methods study addressing identified knowledge gaps.