The use of theory in process evaluations conducted alongside randomized trials of implementation interventions: A systematic review

Abstract

Interventions to implement changes into health care practice (i.e., implementation interventions) are critical to improving care but their effects are poorly understood. Two strategies to better understand intervention effects are conducting process evaluations and using theoretical approaches (i.e., theories, models, frameworks). The extent to which theoretical approaches have been used in process evaluations conducted alongside trials of implementation interventions is unclear. In this study context, we reviewed (a) the proportion of process evaluations citing theoretical approaches, (b) which theoretical approaches were cited, and (c) whether and how theories were used. Systematic review ..