Beyond a single system: A scoping review of Singapore’s health professions education research and transferable insights for advancement

Introduction: More than a decade since the 2010 landmark Lancet Commission called for systems-based reforms, aligning health professions education (HPE) with health system needs remains a global imperative. This review systematically examined the literature on adult learning among Singapore’s healthcare professionals within a system characterized by mixed-financing and low gatekeeping, with implications for national improvement and global adaptation. Methods We conducted a comprehensive search of PubMed, ERIC, SCOPUS, and CINAHL from February to July 2025. Publications and abstracts describing, examining, referencing, or commenting on adult learning in Singapore were included without time restriction. Two reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts, with full-text review confirming relevance. Screening was managed using Covidence systematic review software. Results The search identified 762 unique articles, with 58 studies meeting the final inclusion criteria. Singapore’s HPE research is concentrated in nursing and medicine, predominantly uses survey-based methods, and focuses on lower-level Kirkpatrick outcomes. While simulation and online learning are increasingly being studied, gaps exist in postgraduate assessment, educational scholarship, multi-institutional studies, and higher-level outcome evaluations. Discussion This profile is a probable consequence of systemic features in many similar health systems. Our study offers a transferable methodology for other system to map their own HPE landscapes, identify structural influences on scholarship, and strategically align educational research with national priorities. This system-level analysis helps advance the global agenda for contextually relevant and impactful HPE.