Protocol for a scoping review study to identify occupational health hazards among healthcare providers and ancillary staff in Ghana

Abstract Introduction: The formation, modification and implementation of occupational health and safety policy for the Ghana health care industry hinges on data and reviews on occupational exposures. However, there is no synthesized review to speak to the issues of these occupational exposures. A scoping review on occupational exposures among the health workforce in Ghana will provide a broad overview of exposures, and can guide and assist in making decisions on occupational health issues relating healthcare workers. Methods: The Arksey and O’Malley’s scoping review methodology framework will guide the conduct of this scoping review. Primary research studies, government documents and other information on occupational exposures among healthcare workers published in English language will be retrieved from databases, including PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Medline, Scopus, PsycINFO and Google scholar. Also, grey literature sources in Ghana including government and tertiary institutions websites will be searched. Reference list of key studies will also be screened to identify relevant studies for inclusion. The review will consider studies that address prevalence, knowledge and predisposing factors of occupational exposures along with utilization of occupational hazards preventive measures. After initial removal of duplicates, title and abstract screening, relevant articles will be subjected to full text analysis. The screening processes will be conducted independently by two reviewers. Data will then be extracted and presented in tabular form with a narrative to aid easy comprehension. Ethics and dissemination: This scoping review sought to identify predominant occupational exposures among healthcare providers and ancillary workers as described in published and unpublished literature. In addressing the increase of occupational exposures among healthcare workforce in Ghana, this scoping review is intended to bring all the literature together and predict the areas of occupational exposures that needs attention and redress. The findings of the study will be disseminated through publications, conference presentations and stakeholder meetings.