Navigating the Labyrinth: A Systematic Review of Role Clarity and Scope of Practice Among Diverse Healthcare Providers
Abstract
Background: The contemporary health care system is characterized by increasing patient complexity, unprecedented workforce shortfalls, and a requisite shift toward interprofessional, team-based models of care. Well-defined roles and scopes of practice for all health professionals are key elements underpinning patient safety, team effectiveness, and professional well-being within this dynamic.
Aim: This systematic review aims to synthesize current literature from 2015 to 2025, exploring and comparing issues of role clarity and SoP among five key provider groups: midwives, GPs, nurses, dentists, and health assistants.
Methods: A systematic search across major electronic databases, such as PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Scopus, was conducted for relevant literature published within the period 2015-2025. The review included only peer-reviewed original research, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses focusing on either role clarity or SoP in clinical practice settings for the specified provider groups.
Results: The findings show that role ambiguity is a universal yet distinctive challenge across professions. Key issues pertain to midwives on their autonomy with obstetricians, GPs on their role expansion and delegation, nurses on the blurring of boundaries with advanced practice, dentists on systemic integration, and health assistants on pervasive ambiguity. Cross-cutting themes to influence clarity are regulatory frameworks, interprofessional education, intra-professional differentiation, and organizational culture.
Conclusion: Role clarity is a dynamic process that is necessary for effective teamwork. It requires updated regulations, focused interprofessional education and leadership, and a particular emphasis on the integration of health assistants. Such initiatives are core to ensuring team performance is optimized, care for patients is improved, and provider retention is enhanced.
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References
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Authors
Copyright (c) 2025 Saadah Hameed Mohammed Alfahmi, Abdulrahman Hamad Al Rutaiq, Nada Ahmad Alhejali, Maryam Salem Algarni, Waad Saad Aldossari, Abdullah Kallas Arishi, Shaewela Mosa G Alanazi, Abdulaziz Farrah Andejani, Alia Abdulaziz Alkhelb, Shikah Saad Aldosary, Salwa Salem Alanazi, Shatha Ahmed Alaryani, Asma Mosa G Alanazi, Amal Mohammed ibn Mandeel
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