Abstract
Public health transformation aims to instigate enduring changes in
healthcare services, staff roles, and patient involvement, fostering
heightened satisfaction among patients and staff while bolstering
financial sustainability. This scoping review maps evidence of public
health transformation. Searches encompassed databases including
EBSCOHost, Academic Search Complete, Africa-Wide Information, Dentistry
& Oral Sciences Source, Health Source - Consumer Edition, Health
Source: Nursing/Academic Edition, PUBMED, and Scopus. Abstracts and
full-text articles were screened by two independent reviewers against
predefined criteria. Inclusion criteria spanned peer-reviewed articles
in all languages published between 2013 and 2023. The quality of the
included studies was assessed using the 2018 version of the mixed method
appraisal tool. Screening results were reported following the Preferred
Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for
scoping reviews (PRISMA ScR) guidelines. Of 9509 articles retrieved, 808
duplicates were excluded, leaving 8692 for title and abstract screening.
Following title and abstract screening, 105 articles were deemed
relevant and underwent full article screening, which resulted in 20 that
became eligible for data extraction. Emergent themes included: 1)
Transformation in Public Healthcare; 2) Evaluation of Health
Transformation Programs; 3) Financial Implications; 4) Public Health
Access; and 5) Job Satisfaction. Theme 4 featured a subtheme addressing
healthcare access for minority groups. Overall, the review highlights a
dearth of evidence guiding policymakers in decision-making on public
health transformation, oversight of vulnerable populations, financial
implications, and healthcare accessibility. Solutions should prioritize
a people-centered approach in both practice and research to effectively
address these gaps.