Barriers and facilitators to engaging in the practice of medical assistance in dying among providers in Canada: a scoping review protocol.

OBJECTIVE: This review will explore the perceived barriers to and facilitators for engaging in the practice of medical assistance in dying (MAiD) from the perspective of physicians, nurse practitioners, and medical residents in Canada.

INTRODUCTION: The number of MAiD requests in Canada is growing steadily and is predicted to continue to grow with the passing of Bill C-7, which expands access to individuals whose deaths are not reasonably foreseeable. Under federal law, physicians and nurse practitioners are the only health care professionals permitted to assess for and provide MAiD. Providers are not obligated to provide MAiD care; therefore, patient access relies on providers' readiness to engage in the practice. More information is needed to understand the barriers and facilitators for engaging in MAiD care from the perspective of providers.

INCLUSION CRITERIA: This review will consider studies that identify physicians, nurse practitioners, and medical residents' perceived barriers and facilitators for engaging in the practice of MAiD in Canada. Physicians, nurse practitioners, and medical residents who do not directly provide MAiD, including those who identify as conscientious objectors or non-participants, will be included in the study. Studies looking at barriers and facilitators for providing MAiD care to individuals with dementia, mental illness, or for individuals under the age of 18 will be excluded.

METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL with Full-text, and APA PsycINFO will be searched. Studies will be screened and data extracted by 2 independent reviewers using a tool created for the study's purposes. The scoping review findings will be presented in a narrative format and mapped in tables to address the study aims.

REVIEW REGISTRATION NUMBER: N/A.