Training and assessment of skills in flexible optical intubation: Protocol of a scoping review

Background: Flexible optical intubation (FOI) is the preferred technique for managing anticipated difficult airways, particularly in awake patients when anatomical factors complicate conventional laryngoscopy. Mastering the procedure requires skills, but a comprehensive overview of the evidence on training and assessment of FOI skills is lacking. There is no evidence-based consensus on educational strategies and recommendations for skill acquisition and retention, thus highlighting a significant gap in airway management training. Accordingly, we aim to assess the current evidence on training and assessment in FOI for future educational recommendations. Methods: This scoping review adheres to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) statement and the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews guideline. Eligible studies include qualitative and quantitative research focusing on education, technical training, and assessment of FOI skills in clinical personnel with no obligate comparator. Outcomes should be assessable using Kirkpatrick's four levels of training evaluation. A systematic literature search will be conducted across multiple databases, including Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Cinahl, Scopus, and PubMed. Two independent authors will screen the studies, with discrepancies resolved by a third reviewer. Extracted data will be analyzed descriptively, with a discussion on potential biases in the included literature. The quality of the studies will be assessed using the Medical Education Research Study Quality Instrument (MERSQI). Discussion: The results of this scoping review may serve as a foundation for educational recommendations. By synthesizing available evidence, this review aims to guide future research and policy recommendations for FOI skill acquisition and maintenance.