Exploring the role of symptom monitoring in self-management of chronic physical health conditions experienced by women: protocol for a scoping review

Thompson, Hannah, Boivin, Jacky ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9498-1708, Csontos, Judit Katalin ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4597-3052 and Jackowich, Robyn ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1125-8141 2025. Exploring the role of symptom monitoring in self-management of chronic physical health conditions experienced by women: protocol for a scoping review. BMJ Open 15 (12) , e106700. 10.1136/bmjopen-2025-106700

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Abstract

Introduction Self-management is essential for girls, women and individuals assigned female at birth (AFAB) living with chronic physical health conditions. Evidence suggests that symptom monitoring can support self-management and empower individuals, yet limited research has explored how symptom monitoring is conceptualised, implemented and integrated within self-management frameworks considering the unique needs of biological, gendered and social factors affecting women and people AFAB. This scoping review aims to explore the role of symptom monitoring in self-management for girls, women and individuals AFAB. To achieve this, this review aims to define and conceptualise symptom monitoring and self-management, map existing symptom monitoring interventions and mechanisms linked to self-management and identify how sex, gender and systemic influences are considered in the context of chronic physical health conditions. Methods and analysis This scoping review will be reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews checklist. Six bibliographic databases (Cochrane Library, Scopus, PsycINFO (Ovid), MEDLINE (Ovid), EMBASE (Ovid) and CINAHL (EBSCO)) were searched from inception to 13 May 2025. Eligible studies will include primary research from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries, published in English, involving girls, women and individuals AFAB with chronic physical health conditions that involve symptom-monitoring tools linked to self-management. Studies focusing solely on obesity without reference to chronic conditions, acute illnesses or mental health conditions will be excluded. Screening will be undertaken independently by two reviewers in Rayyan, and citation management will be supported through reference software. Data extraction will follow Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidance, capturing study characteristics, participant demographics and definitions related to symptom monitoring and self-management. Both inductive and deductive qualitative content analyses will be used: deductively, data will be organised according to the population, concept and context framework and research objectives. Inductively, descriptive categories will be developed from the data. Two complementary approaches will guide coding such as direct extraction of data and content coding of structured textual information, and thematic coding of interpretive data, supported by Microsoft Excel and SPSS. A small subset (5%–10%) will be double-coded to ensure consistency. Key outputs will include descriptive tables showing representation of girls, women and people AFAB by condition and context, following a synthesis of symptom monitoring and self-management (through theory/models). Tables summarising symptom-monitoring tools, mechanisms and a table outlining moderating factors influencing symptom monitoring and self-management experiences will be presented. Results will be presented through narrative summaries and visual diagrams to illustrate key relationships and concepts. Ethics and dissemination Formal ethical approval is not required for this study, as no primary data will be collected. The results of this scoping review will be shared with a wide range of audiences, including healthcare professionals, researchers, the public, policymakers, charities and patient advocacy groups. In the efforts of dissemination, this work strives to promote inclusive, evidence-based and equitable approaches to symptom monitoring and self-management among girls, women and people AFAB living with chronic physical health conditions.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	Published
Schools:	Schools > Psychology
Publisher:	BMJ Publishing Group
ISSN:	2044-6055
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	5 January 2026
Date of Acceptance:	14 November 2025
Last Modified:	06 Jan 2026 10:30
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/183558

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