Home Health Care Providers' Readiness to Care for Children and Youth With Complex Medical Conditions: A Scoping Review

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Abstract
Aim To synthesise evidence on how home care providers' readiness to care for children and youth with medical complexity (CYMC) is conceptualised, what shapes it in practice and what approaches have been used to support or enhance readiness. Methods This scoping review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA‐ScR and Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines, with the protocol registered on the Open Science Framework. MEDLINE, Scopus, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Cochrane databases and ProQuest (Nursing & Allied Health; Dissertations & Theses) were searched from 30 th April 2025, with an update on 29th December 2025. Quantitative, qualitative, mixed‐methods studies, reviews and relevant grey literature examining provider readiness to care for CYMC (0–18 years) at home were eligible. Two reviewers independently screened and charted data. Results A total of 19 studies were included following screening of 3530 records and 64 full‐text reviews. Providers described limited paediatric‐specific education, mentorship and supervision, variable training quality and reliance on experiential learning. Readiness was shaped by home conditions, isolation, unclear roles, family dynamics and equipment reliability. No tool measured readiness as a unified construct. Lower readiness was related to safety concerns, readmissions, family stress and provider moral distress. Conclusion Provider readiness appears to be a key safety and quality concern in paediatric home care, shaped by clinical, relational and system‐level supports. Future work should clarify the construct, develop measures and test multicomponent strategies combining paediatric‐specific education, mentorship, supported practice and service redesign.

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