A systematic scoping review of primary health care service outreach for homeless populations.

This article systematically reviews the effectiveness of primary health care service outreach (PHSO) interventions for homeless populations (HPs) in high-income countries, based on 24 studies published between 2006 and 2020. PHSO, defined as bringing primary care services directly to HPs in their environments, was found to improve access by offering flexible, conveniently located, and nonjudgmental care, often combined with provision of basic necessities. Outreach services addressed a range of health issues including dental, mental, infectious, and general medical conditions, and showed potential in preventive care and reducing emergency department visits, though evidence on referral effectiveness and long-term outcomes remains limited. The review highlights challenges such as engagement and retention of certain subgroups (e.g., young people, rough sleepers), the need for integrated multidisciplinary teams, and cost considerations, recommending further long-term, comparative research co-produced with HPs to better evaluate PHSO efficacy and optimize service delivery.