A scoping review is a type of research review that aims to map out and summarize existing research literature in a particular field or topic area. It involves identifying the key concepts, theories, and themes that have been studied in a given area, as well as any gaps or inconsistencies in the research. A scoping review is often used to provide an overview of the current state of knowledge in a field, identify areas for future research, and inform the development of research questions and hypotheses. Unlike a systematic review, which focuses on answering a specific research question, a scoping review is more exploratory in nature and does not typically include a formal assessment of the quality of the included studies.