Barriers and enablers to scaling implementation of Trauma Recovery Center model of care: a protocol for scoping review

INTRODUCTION: The Trauma Recovery Center (TRC) is an evidence-based model of care designed to meet the needs of underserved survivors of violent crime through the provision of comprehensive mental health and psychosocial services. Originally developed in the USA, the TRC model has been adopted by 53 hospitals and outpatient settings nationwide. Its demonstrated effectiveness supports its potential for international scale-up, particularly in countries seeking to improve their responses to interpersonal violence and trauma. While the core principles of the model remain universally consistent, there is a striking paucity of synthesised evidence on implementation barriers and enablers, necessary to guide effective scale-up and adaptation across diverse systems of care. The objective of this scoping review is to identify and map barriers and facilitators that influence implementation of the TRC model of care. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The scoping review was initiated in May 2025 and is expected to be completed in May 2026. The review will be conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology for scoping reviews. Results will be reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses for Scoping Reviews. The initial PubMed search was conducted in June 2025. The finalised search strategy will subsequently be applied to PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, CINAHL and Scopus databases. A two-stage screening process using Covidence software will be used to determine study eligibility. To be included, studies will be required to have examined implementation-related barriers or facilitators associated with at least one core element of the TRC model or analogous psychosocial support programmes within the context of comprehensive, trauma-informed care for survivors of violent crime. Studies conducted within the USA and published in English between 2001 and 2026 will be included.All studies will be independently assessed for eligibility. Data will be extracted and mapped using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). Extracted data will be analysed and synthesised narratively across the five CFIR domains, accompanied by summary tables that describe how the findings relate to the review objective. Existing knowledge gaps will be identified and discussed. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics approval is not required for this scoping review. Experts from the National Alliance of Trauma Recovery Centers (NATRC) will be engaged to provide feedback on the study findings and support the dissemination of results. Dissemination activities will include peer-reviewed publications and presentations at academic conferences and professional events, such as NATRC's technical assistance and learning community training sessions.