Use of prokinetic agents in hospitalised adult patients: Protocol for a scoping review

Background: Gastrointestinal motility is an important contributor to the effective uptake of water and nutrition. However, it is often impaired in acutely ill hospitalised patients. Amongst other indications, prokinetic agents are used to improve GI motility, but the body of evidence is not well described. Accordingly, we aim to systematically describe and explore the body of evidence on the use of prokinetic agents in hospitalised adults. Methods: In accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews statement, we plan to conduct a scoping review of studies assessing the use of prokinetic agents, for any indication, in hospitalised adults. We plan to assess study design, population, agents, indications and outcomes across included studies. When applicable, we plan to assess the certainty of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Results: We plan to provide descriptive analyses of the included studies accompanied by tabulated results and characterise knowledge gaps. Conclusion: The outlined scoping review will provide a summary of the body of evidence on the use, indications, effects and side effects of prokinetic agents in hospitalised adults.