The role of water-based interventions on human communication-related outcomes: a scoping review protocol

Rita Feio da gama Alegria; João Pedro Melo Pestana Mouga Malheiro; Ana Rita Costa Cruz; Christina César Praça Brasil; Maria Teresa Moreira; Vânia Daniela Rocha Peixoto

doi:10.62741/ahrj.v3iSuppl.233

Authors

Rita Feio da gama Alegria https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6327-6088
Pedro Pestana https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1931-3192
Ana Rita Cruz https://orcid.org/0009-0006-0283-7973
Christina César Praça Brasil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7741-5349
Maria Teresa Moreira https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2554-697X
Vânia Peixoto https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8212-2137

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.62741/ahrj.v3iSuppl.233

Keywords:

Water-based interventions, Human communication, Speech and language therapy, Autism spectrum disorder, Hydrotherapy

Abstract

Introduction: Human communication is a dynamic and multifactorial process that supports social participation, interpersonal relationships, learning, and overall wellbeing. Communication difficulties can significantly affect autonomy and quality of life. Recently, water-based interventions have gained relevance due to the unique sensory, motor, and psychosocial properties of water. Although widely explored in motor rehabilitation, evidence regarding the effects on communication-related outcomes remains fragmented and insufficiently synthesized.

Objectives: To map and synthesize the available scientific evidence regarding the effects of water-based interventions on communication-related outcomes in human populations.

Methodology: A scoping review will be conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodological guidance and reported according to the PRISMA-ScR checklist. The research question was structured using the PCC framework: population (human participants of any age or clinical condition), concept (wtaer-based interventions), and context (any setting in which communication-related outcomes are assessed). Searches will be conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, APA PsycInfo, and EBSCO databases, including grey literature. Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies will be included. Study selection and data extraction will be performed independently by two reviewers.

Results: This review is expected to identify the types of aquatic interventions, the populations studied, the communication outcomes assessed, and the evaluation instruments used, while identifying literature gaps.

Conclusion: This scoping review will contribute to a broader understanding of the role of aquatic interventions in communication, supporting future clinical, educational, and interdisciplinary practices.

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