Implementation of the WHO ICOPE in Primary Health Care Worldwide: A Scoping Review Protocol

Integrated Care for Older People (ICOPE) proposes evidence-based actions aimed at the assessment and management of age-related declines in physical and mental capacities. Intrinsic capacity (IC), defined as the composite of physical and mental capacities, is assessed across five domains—vitality, locomotion, vision, hearing, cognition, and psychological aspects—as well as through their interactions with the lived environment. The initiative proposed by the World Health Organization (WHO) has already been implemented in several countries. Global mapping of ICOPE is necessary to identify gaps and strengths and to support decision-making by other researchers regarding the implementation and further development of ICOPE. The objective of this study is to map and update the international implementation of the WHO/ICOPE strategy, identifying its characteristics and the outcomes of its implementation. This scoping review will follow the methodology proposed by the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI). The population will comprise individuals aged ≥ 60 years. The concept includes initiatives worldwide that implement and develop the WHO/ICOPE approach. Broad inclusion aims to map all possibilities reported in the literature within the context of primary health care or equivalent settings worldwide. Studies of any design that have implemented and use ICOPE will be included, with no restrictions on year of publication or language. Study selection will be conducted in stages using the Rayyan reference management system. The selected studies will be assessed in full text by two independent reviewers. Any disagreements between reviewers will be resolved through evaluation by a third reviewer. The entire selection process will be documented using a PRISMA-ScR flow diagram.