Assessment Instruments for Social Anxiety in Oral and Public Communication Among Health Sciences Students: Protocol for a Scoping Review

BACKGROUND: Proficiency in interpersonal communication and social skills is fundamental for health sciences students, but public speaking anxiety and communication apprehension frequently compromise academic performance, emotional well-being, and the acquisition of essential competencies. The postpandemic educational environment has exacerbated student stress, highlighting the urgent need for reliable assessment tools for social anxiety in this population. OBJECTIVE: This scoping review protocol aims to map instruments used to assess public speaking anxiety and communication apprehension among health sciences students, analyzing their psychometric properties, cultural adaptations, and application contexts. METHODS: Following the Joanna Briggs Institute framework and PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines, a systematic search will be conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Embase, LILACS, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, and the Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde Portal. Eligible studies will include those evaluating social or performance anxiety in undergraduate or postgraduate health sciences students, using validated or culturally adapted instruments. Two independent reviewers will screen studies, with discrepancies resolved by a third reviewer. Data extraction will be conducted systematically, focusing on structural and content variables. Analysis will use a mixed methods approach, combining descriptive statistics with thematic synthesis and incorporating psychometric expertise. RESULTS: As of May 2026, protocol registration has been completed via the Open Science Framework. Systematic database searches and study selection are scheduled to commence in June 2026, with anticipated completion by December 2026, aligned with a 2-year implementation road map designed to generate comprehensive instrument mapping and secondary analyses for evidence-based health professional training. CONCLUSIONS: This protocol establishes a transparent and reproducible methodological plan, ensuring scientific rigor through adherence to Joanna Briggs Institute and PRISMA-ScR standards. It will deepen understanding of social anxiety assessment in oral communication among health sciences students and support the development of more effective interventions. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Open Science Framework 10.17605/OSF.IO/YQ4KM; https://osf.io/yq4km. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID): PRR1-10.2196/93700.