CPAP Implementation Strategies for Optimized Neonatal Care: A Scoping Review

ObjectiveThis scoping review aims to identify change ideas and implementation strategies that support CPAP use for eligible newborns (<2500g, preterm, or with RDS symptoms), and to inform quality improvement efforts in NEST360-supported facilities in sub-Saharan Africa through relevant process measures. IntroductionContinuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) is a well-established and effective treatment for neonates with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), widely used to prevent respiratory failure in small and sick infants across different settings. Yet, its timely and appropriate use remains inconsistent due to persisting obstacles to access and implementation, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Gaps in CPAP coverage related to challenges in device availability, functionality and delivery continue to hinder the provision of optimal care to vulnerable newborns. While the barriers have been widely documented, few literature reviews have systematically explored tangible strategies aimed at overcoming these barriers. Inclusion criteriaThis review includes articles involving preterm and term neonates (<28 days) with birth weight <2500g and/or symptoms of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), thus eligible for CPAP therapy. It focuses on interventions that support timely initiation and appropriate use of CPAP, including implementation strategies and change ideas for quality improvement. Eligible clinical settings include neonatal intensive care units, hospital wards, delivery rooms, and other newborn-focused environments. No geographical restrictions were applied. Studies will be excluded if they (a) do not center the defined neonatal population, (b) exclusively assess CPAP effectiveness rather than implementation, (c) explore CPAP use for unrelated conditions (e.g., sleep apnea), or (d) described barriers without corresponding solutions. MethodsThis scoping review follows the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and uses the Population-Concept-Context framework to guide inclusion criteria. This protocol is published a priori in alignment with PROSPERO guidelines. Searches were conducted in MEDLINE (via PubMed), Embase (via Elsevier), and CINAHL (via EBSCOhost) in August 2025, with no date limits and English-language restriction. The search strategy was peer-reviewed using the PRESS 2015 guideline. Reference lists of included studies will be screened for additional sources. Article selection will be performed independently by two reviewers using Rayyan, with discrepancies resolved by consensus or a third reviewer. Full-text screening will apply predefined inclusion criteria, and reasons for exclusion will be documented. Data extraction will be conducted using a piloted form developed by the review team, capturing facility and participant characteristics, implementation strategies/change ideas, context, and CPAP-related use outcomes. No critical appraisal will be performed, consistent with JBI guidance on scoping reviews. Results will be presented narratively and in tabular format, with a PRISMA-ScR flow diagram summarizing the selection process.