Table 4 Reviews (2014–2017) used to validate programme theories
Author (Year) [Ref] | Context | Discipline | Aim of study | Indicative If-Thens |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Borkowski et al. (2016) [33] | Systematic Review | Allied Health | To evaluate the evidence to increase understanding of factors that could influence AH research culture, in addition to identifying the enablers and barriers for AH professionals to conduct research | IF individuals are able to identify involvement in multiple research activities and identify research in their job descriptions, THEN they will have confidence in their research skills and abilities IF individuals identify a problem that needs changing, THEN they get involved in research activities |
Dean et al. (2017) [77] | LMICs | Health and Health Services Research | To critically analyse collective health RCS effort regarding the level, type, cohesion and conceptual sophistication of the current evidence base | IF LMICs are to own research conducted in their own context, THEN reflexivity on the appropriateness of particular research for their country should be encouraged |
Ekeroma et al. (2015) [78] | LMICs | Health and Health Services Research | To identify educational and other interventions that worked for clinicians, their characteristics and how they may have worked | IF novice researchers receive mentoring from experienced researchers, THEN novice researchers succeed in research activities IF individuals work together in designated research teams, THEN individuals are successful in research activities |
Franzen et al. (2017) [48] | LMICs | Health and Health Services Research | To identify and critically examine the main approaches, strategies and trends in health RCD and consolidate key thinking in order to identify a more coherent approach | IF organisations develop and share a database of researchers, THEN researchers are able to network with each other IF organisations develop LMIC university research training capacity using ‘train the trainer’ programmes, THEN individuals feel able to engage with health research |
Gagliardi et al. (2014) [36] | Systematic Review | Knowledge Translation | To review literature in management and social sciences and identify essential components of mentoring programmes that could be adapted for knowledge translation mentorship | IF a preliminary workshop is used to convey knowledge prior to mentoring, THEN mentoring can reinforce that prior knowledge |
Huber et al. (2015) [79] | Systematic review | Health and Health Services Research | To review tools and instruments to aid health RCD initiatives in selecting appropriate tools and instruments for data collection within their respective context | IF national organisations pay attention to the sustainability of programmes and impact evaluation (e.g. parameters of patient care or societal aspects), THEN research meets the needs of the local populations |
Kahwa et al. (2016) [80] | LMICs | Health and Health Services Research | To explore definitions, concepts, approaches and frameworks for RCB, to identify frameworks for evaluating RCB in healthcare, and to describe key challenges related to RCB in LMICs | IF leadership operates at an individual and a team level, THEN senior researchers support junior researchers and champion the development of institutional supports for research (including protected time for research) IF organisations offer ongoing training, mentoring and supervision, sharing of skills and expertise as well as providing opportunities to apply acquired skills, THEN individuals develop research skills, self-assuredness and a positive attitude towards doing and using research IF research questions are generated in consultation with users (practitioners and other service providers, and policy-makers), THEN researchers produce research that is relevant to prevailing health issues and concerns IF organisations support appropriate dissemination, THEN this enhances the social impact of research and ensures that it effectively influences practice IF organisations establish essential research structures and provide opportunities to apply and extend knowledge and skills gained into practice, THEN organisations can achieve continuity and sustainability IF organisations involve academic and management staff to supervise and manage projects, provide protected time for research, create research positions, and enhance knowledge about and access to research funding opportunities, THEN organisations support participation in research/related capacity-building initiatives IF researchers develop partnerships and linkages and thus expand intellectual and social capital, THEN this facilitates the exchange of research skills, knowledge and expertise |
Lode et al. (2015) [34] | Systematic Review | Nursing | To identify and evaluate evidence of clinical nurses’ RCB in practice | IF organisations strengthen nurses’ belief in the value of research and of research teams, THEN nurses will participate in research activities |
Mugabo et al. (2015) [81] | LMICs (Africa) | Health and Health Services Research | To contribute to RCD efforts by providing insights from different approaches that could be applied to other locations and to encourage more complete reporting of such initiatives | IF organisations develop a strong institutional infrastructure, THEN organisations succeed in securing research funding IF experienced researchers mentor novice researchers on publications, THEN novice researchers are able to publish their research in high profile international journals |
Norton et al. (2016) [35] | Systematic Review | Public Health | To identify evaluated strategies used by organisations and programme developers to build the programme evaluation capacity of their workforce, and to describe success factors and lessons learned | IF organisations demonstrate that evaluation is an organisational focus or priority, THEN individuals will consider involvement in evaluation to be important IF organisations embed evaluation into work processes through policy and procedures that uphold evaluation expectations, THEN organisations demonstrate strong evaluation leadership |