BackgroundCollaboration between medical specialists and general practitioners (GPs) is well known from daily practice, but research on the topic is rather scarce. This scoping review summarizes role distributions and components of this collaboration that have potential for improvement for the care of patients with complex chronic conditions. Methods Scoping review as a knowledge synthesis for components of collaboration and role distributions between medical specialists and GPs in intervention studies. The PubMed database was searched for literature from 2010-2020.ResultsLiterature search and reference screening generated 2,174 articles. Of these, 30 articles originating from 22 unique projects were included in our synthesis. These projects focus on different patient populations and take diverse approaches to improve collaboration within an intervention. The GP is most commonly in charge of patient management and extends the scope of practice. The specialist provides support when needed. Clear definition of roles and responsibilities, resources for knowledge exchange and raising awareness through education from specialists for specific health conditions are commonly utilized interventions. Typically, combinations of process and system changes that address communication and coordination issues are applied. Most interventions improve provider and patient satisfaction, health outcomes, and reduce fragmentation of patient care.ConclusionInterventions to improve collaboration between GPs and medical specialists seem promising. Further efforts should be made to test and apply the findings in broad clinical practice.