Realist synthesis: illustrating the method for implementation research
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND: Realist synthesis is an increasingly popular approach to the review and synthesis of evidence, which focuses on understanding the mechanisms by which an intervention works (or not). There are few published examples of realist synthesis. This paper therefore fills a gap by describing, in detail, the process used for a realist review and synthesis to answer the question 'what interventions and strategies are effective in enabling evidence-informed healthcare?' The strengths and challenges of conducting realist review are also considered. METHODS: The realist approach involves identifying underlying causal mechanisms and exploring how they work under what conditions. The stages of this review included: defining the scope of the review (concept mining and framework formulation); searching for and scrutinising the evidence; extracting and synthesising the evidence; and developing the narrative, including hypotheses. RESULTS: Based on key terms and concepts related to various interventions to promote evidence-informed healthcare, we developed an outcome-focused theoretical framework. Questions were tailored for each of four theory/intervention areas within the theoretical framework and were used to guide development of a review and data extraction process. The search for literature within our first theory area, change agency, was executed and the screening procedure resulted in inclusion of 52 papers. Using the questions relevant to this theory area, data were extracted by one reviewer and validated by a second reviewer. Synthesis involved organisation of extracted data into evidence tables, theming and formulation of chains of inference, linking between the chains of inference, and hypothesis formulation. The narrative was developed around the hypotheses generated within the change agency theory area. CONCLUSIONS: Realist synthesis lends itself to the review of complex interventions because it accounts for context as well as outcomes in the process of systematically and transparently synthesising relevant literature. While realist synthesis demands flexible thinking and the ability to deal with complexity, the rewards include the potential for more pragmatic conclusions than alternative approaches to systematic reviewing. A separate publication will report the findings of the review.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Scoping reviews are not the same as 'realist reviews'.
“Here, it is important to understand that scoping reviews are not the same as ‘realist reviews’ which can also be used to examine how interventions or programmes work.”
From Scoping reviews: reinforcing and advancing the methodology and application (2021) · cites this paper as [33]
Realist reviews are typically designed to elucidate the theories that underpin a programme, examine evidence to reveal if and how those theories are relevant, and explain how the given programme works (or not).
“Realist reviews are typically designed to ellucide the theories that underpin a programme, examine evidence to reveal if and how those theories are relevant and explain how the given programme works (or not) [33].”
From Scoping reviews: reinforcing and advancing the methodology and application (2021) · cites this paper as [33]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Audit and feedback: effects on professional practice and healthcare outcomes
Ivers, N., Jamtvedt, G., Flottorp, S., Young, J. M., Odgaard-Jensen, J., French, S. D., O'Brien, M. A., Johansen, M., Grimshaw, J., & Oxman, A. D. (2012) · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1002/14651858.cd000259.pub3 · Cited by 5,485 · see citing works
Realist review - a new method of systematic review designed for complex policy interventions
Pawson, R., Greenhalgh, T., Harvey, G., & Walshe, K. (2005) · Journal of Health Services Research & Policy · doi:10.1258/1355819054308530 · Cited by 3,190 · see citing works
Effectiveness and efficiency of guideline dissemination and implementation strategies
Grimshaw, J., Thomas, R., MacLennan, G., Fraser, C., Ramsay, C., Vale, L., Whitty, P., Eccles, M., Matowe, L., Shirran, L., et al. (2004) · Health Technology Assessment · doi:10.3310/hta8060 · Cited by 3,044 · see citing works
Bero, L. A., Grilli, R., Grimshaw, J. M., Harvey, E., Oxman, A. D., & Thomson, M. A. (1998) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.317.7156.465 · Cited by 2,396 · see citing works
Synthesising qualitative and quantitative evidence: A review of possible methods
Dixon-Woods, M., Agarwal, S., Jones, D., Young, B., & Sutton, A. (2005) · Journal of Health Services Research & Policy · doi:10.1177/135581960501000110 · Cited by 2,132 · see citing works
Methods for the synthesis of qualitative research: a critical review
Barnett-Page, E., & Thomas, J. (2009) · BMC Medical Research Methodology · doi:10.1186/1471-2288-9-59 · Cited by 2,087 · see citing works
Pawson, R. (2006) · doi:10.4135/9781849209120 · Cited by 1,791 · see citing works
(2001) · PubMed · Cited by 1,709 · see citing works
What counts as evidence in evidence‐based practice?
Rycroft‐Malone, J., Seers, K., Titchen, A., Harvey, G., Kitson, A. A., & McCormack, B. G. (2004) · Journal of Advanced Nursing · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2648.2004.03068.x · Cited by 960 · see citing works
Self-citationEffectiveness and efficiency of guideline dissemination and implementation strategies
Grimshaw, J. M., Thomas, R. E., MacLennan, G., Fraser, C., Ramsay, C. R., Vale, L., Whitty, P., Eccles, M. P., Matowe, L., Shirran, L., et al. (2005) · International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care · doi:10.1017/s0266462305290190 · Cited by 864 · see citing works
Lean thinking in healthcare: a realist review of the literature
Mazzocato, P., Savage, C., Brommels, M., Aronsson, H., & Thor, J. (2010) · BMJ Quality & Safety · doi:10.1136/qshc.2009.037986 · Cited by 630 · see citing works
Realist synthesis - an introduction
Pawson, R., Greenhalgh, T., Harvey, G., & Walshe, K. (2004) · UCL Discovery (University College London) · Cited by 570 · see citing works
The research process in nursing
Gerrish, K., & Lacey, A. (2010) · Cited by 521 · see citing works
Internet-based medical education: a realist review of what works, for whom and in what circumstances
Wong, G., Greenhalgh, T., & Pawson, R. (2010) · BMC Medical Education · doi:10.1186/1472-6920-10-12 · Cited by 443 · see citing works
The Research Process in Nursing
Timmins, F. (2011) · Nurse Education in Practice · doi:10.1016/j.nepr.2010.12.004 · Cited by 355 · see citing works
O’Brien, M. A., Freemantle, N., Oxman, A. D., Wolfe, F., Davis, D., & Herrin, J. S. (2001) · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1002/14651858.cd003030 · Cited by 340 · see citing works
Protocol - realist and meta-narrative evidence synthesis: Evolving Standards (RAMESES)
Greenhalgh, T., Wong, G., Westhorp, G., & Pawson, R. (2011) · BMC Medical Research Methodology · doi:10.1186/1471-2288-11-115 · Cited by 279 · see citing works
O'Campo, P. J., Kirst, M. J., Tsamis, C., Chambers, C., & Ahmad, F. (2011) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2010.12.019 · Cited by 270 · see citing works
Realist review to understand the efficacy of school feeding programmes
Greenhalgh, T., Kristjansson, E., & Robinson, V. (2007) · British medical journal · doi:10.1136/bmj.39359.525174.ad · Cited by 242 · see citing works
Social Science: Beyond Constructivism and Realism
Delanty, G. (1997) · Cited by 229 · see citing works
Interventions aimed at increasing research use in nursing: a systematic review
Thompson, D. S., Estabrooks, C. A., Scott-Findlay, S., Moore, K., & Wallin, L. (2007) · Implementation Science · doi:10.1186/1748-5908-2-15 · Cited by 205 · see citing works
Self-citationCritical realism: a way forward for evaluation research in nursing?
McEvoy, P., & Richards, D. A. (2003) · Journal of Advanced Nursing · doi:10.1046/j.1365-2648.2003.02730.x · Cited by 203 · see citing works
Nothing as Practical as a Good Theory
Pawson, R. (2003) · Evaluation · doi:10.1177/1356389003094007 · Cited by 194 · see citing works
Guidelines in professions allied to medicine
Thomas, L. H., Cullum, N. A., McColl, E., Rousseau, N. S., Soutter, J. L., & Steen, N. (1999) · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1002/14651858.cd000349 · Cited by 183 · see citing works
O’Brien, M. A., Freemantle, N., Oxman, A., Wolf, F. M., Davis, D., & Herrin, J. S. (2001) · BMC News and views · doi:10.1186/2048-4623-1-s3-pc118 · Cited by 153 · see citing works
Known Knowns, Known Unknowns, Unknown Unknowns
Pawson, R., Wong, G., & Owen, L. (2011) · American Journal of Evaluation · doi:10.1177/1098214011403831 · Cited by 139 · see citing works
Critical Realism as emancipatory action: the case for realistic evaluation in practice development
Wilson, V., & McCormack, B. (2006) · Nursing Philosophy · doi:10.1111/j.1466-769x.2006.00248.x · Cited by 119 · see citing works
Self-citationNothing as Practical as a Good Theory
Andersen, K. H. (2019) · Princeton University Press eBooks · doi:10.23943/princeton/9780691192956.003.0001 · Cited by 108 · see citing works
District nurses’ role in palliative care provision: A realist review
Walshe, C., & Luker, K. A. (2010) · International Journal of Nursing Studies · doi:10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2010.04.006 · Cited by 94 · see citing works
Furedy, J. J. (1990) · Canadian Psychology/Psychologie canadienne · doi:10.1037/h0078903 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
Implementation of antiretroviral therapy adherence interventions: a realist synthesis of evidence
Leeman, J., Chang, Y., Lee, E. J., Voils, C. I., Crandell, J., & Sandelowski, M. (2010) · Journal of Advanced Nursing · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2648.2010.05360.x · Cited by 34 · see citing works
A realist synthesis of evidence relating to practice development: methodology and methods
McCormack, B. G., Wright, J., Dewar, B. J., Harvey, G., & Ballantine, K. (2007) · Practice Development in Health Care · doi:10.1002/pdh.210 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Self-citation
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
RAMESES publication standards: realist syntheses
Wong, G., Greenhalgh, T., Westhorp, G., Buckingham, J., & Pawson, R. (2013) · BMC Medicine · doi:10.1186/1741-7015-11-21 · Cited by 1,374 · see citing works
A New Paradigm for Systematic Literature Reviews in Supply Chain Management
Durach, C. F., Kembro, J. H., & Wieland, A. (2017) · Journal of Supply Chain Management · doi:10.1111/jscm.12145 · Cited by 980 · see citing works
Scoping reviews: reinforcing and advancing the methodology and application
Peters, M. D. J., Marnie, C., Colquhoun, H., Garritty, C. M., Hempel, S., Horsley, T., Langlois, E. V., Lillie, E., O’Brien, K. K., Tunçalp, Ӧ., et al. (2021) · Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1186/s13643-021-01821-3 · Cited by 887 · see citing works
Charani, E., Castro‐Sánchez, E., Sevdalis, N., Kyratsis, Y., Drumright, L. N., Shah, N., & Holmes, A. H. (2013) · Clinical Infectious Diseases · doi:10.1093/cid/cit212 · Cited by 466 · see citing works
RAMESES publication standards: realist syntheses
Wong, G., Greenhalgh, T., Westhorp, G., Buckingham, J., & Pawson, R. (2013) · Journal of Advanced Nursing · doi:10.1111/jan.12095 · Cited by 385 · see citing works
Kastner, M., Tricco, A. C., Soobiah, C., Lillie, E., Perrier, L., Horsley, T., Welch, V., Cogo, E., Antony, J., & Straus, S. E. (2012) · BMC Medical Research Methodology · doi:10.1186/1471-2288-12-114 · Cited by 345 · see citing works
Exploring Privilege in the Digital Divide: Implications for Theory, Policy, and Practice
Fang, M. L., Canham, S. L., Battersby, L., Sixsmith, J., Wada, M., & Sixsmith, A. (2019) · The Gerontologist · doi:10.1093/geront/gny037 · Cited by 353 · see citing works
Lubberink, R., Blok, V., van Ophem, J., & Omta, O. (2017) · Sustainability · doi:10.3390/su9050721 · Cited by 352 · see citing works
Jagosh, J. (2019) · Annual Review of Public Health · doi:10.1146/annurev-publhealth-031816-044451 · Cited by 346 · see citing works
Panel, S. G. P. C., Hoekstra, F., Mrklas, K., Khan, M., McKay, R. C., Vis‐Dunbar, M., Sibley, K. M., Nguyen, T., Graham, I. D., & Gainforth, H. L. (2020) · Health Research Policy and Systems · doi:10.1186/s12961-020-0544-9 · Cited by 346 · see citing works
Siriwardhana, C., Ali, S. S., Roberts, B., & Stewart, R. (2014) · Conflict and Health · doi:10.1186/1752-1505-8-13 · Cited by 299 · see citing works
Lacouture, A., Breton, É., Guichard, A., & Ridde, V. (2015) · Implementation Science · doi:10.1186/s13012-015-0345-7 · Cited by 295 · see citing works
Yang, L. Y., Manhas, D. S., Howard, A. F., & Olson, R. A. (2017) · Supportive Care in Cancer · doi:10.1007/s00520-017-3865-7 · Cited by 270 · see citing works
Batterham, R. W., Buchbinder, R., Beauchamp, A., Dodson, S., Elsworth, G. R., & Osborne, R. H. (2014) · BMC Public Health · doi:10.1186/1471-2458-14-694 · Cited by 238 · see citing works
Zamboni, K., Baker, U., Tyagi, M., Schellenberg, J., Hill, Z. E., & Hanson, C. (2020) · Implementation Science · doi:10.1186/s13012-020-0978-z · Cited by 231 · see citing works
Building Realist Program Theory for Large Complex and Messy Interventions
Shearn, K., Allmark, P., Piercy, H., & Hirst, J. (2017) · International Journal of Qualitative Methods · doi:10.1177/1609406917741796 · Cited by 215 · see citing works
Editorial: The Future of Writing and Reviewing for IJMR
Jones, O., & Gatrell, C. J. (2014) · International Journal of Management Reviews · doi:10.1111/ijmr.12038 · Cited by 220 · see citing works
Jacob, C. M., Hardy‐Johnson, P., Inskip, H. M., Morris, T., Parsons, C. M., Barrett, M., Hanson, M. A., Woods‐Townsend, K., & Baird, J. (2021) · International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity · doi:10.1186/s12966-020-01065-9 · Cited by 216 · see citing works
Dada, S., Dalkin, S. M., Gilmore, B., Hunter, R. L., & Mukumbang, F. C. (2023) · Research Synthesis Methods · doi:10.1002/jrsm.1630 · Cited by 211 · see citing works
Systematic searching for theory to inform systematic reviews: is it feasible? Is it desirable?
Booth, A., & Carroll, C. (2015) · Health Information & Libraries Journal · doi:10.1111/hir.12108 · Cited by 196 · see citing works
Clinical research activity in periodontal medicine: a systematic mapping of trial registers
Monsarrat, P., Blaizot, A., Kémoun, P., Ravaud, P., Nabet, C., Sixou, M., & Vergnes, J. (2016) · Journal Of Clinical Periodontology · doi:10.1111/jcpe.12534 · Cited by 199 · see citing works
Harris, J. L., Booth, A., Cargo, M., Hannes, K., Harden, A., Flemming, K., Garside, R., Pantoja, T., Thomas, J., & Noyes, J. (2018) · Journal of Clinical Epidemiology · doi:10.1016/j.jclinepi.2017.10.023 · Cited by 165 · see citing works
Jagosh, J., Pluye, P., Wong, G., Cargo, M., Salsberg, J., Bush, P. L., Herbert, C. P., Green, L. W., Greenhalgh, T., & Macaulay, A. C. (2014) · Research Synthesis Methods · doi:10.1002/jrsm.1099 · Cited by 165 · see citing works
Varsi, C., Solberg Nes, L., Kristjansdottir, O. B., Kelders, S. M., Stenberg, U., Zangi, H. A., Børøsund, E., Weiss, K. E., Stubhaug, A., Asbjørnsen, R. A., et al. (2019) · Journal of Medical Internet Research · doi:10.2196/14255 · Cited by 148 · see citing works
Goldstein, E., Chokshi, B., Meléndez‐Torres, G. J., Rios, A., Jelley, M., & Lewis-O’Connor, A. (2024) · The Permanente Journal · doi:10.7812/tpp/23.127 · Cited by 162 · see citing works
Gonot-Schoupinsky, F., & Garip, G. (2018) · Complementary Therapies in Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.ctim.2018.04.009 · Cited by 156 · see citing works
Sustainability in engineering education: A review of learning outcomes
Gutierrez-Bucheli, L. A., Kidman, G., & Reid, A. D. (2021) · Journal of Cleaner Production · doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.129734 · Cited by 151 · see citing works
Keyworth, C., Hart, J., Armitage, C. J., & Tully, M. P. (2018) · BMC Medical Informatics and Decision Making · doi:10.1186/s12911-018-0661-3 · Cited by 148 · see citing works
McCormack, B. G., Rycroft‐Malone, J., DeCorby, K., Hutchinson, A. M., Bucknall, T. K., Kent, B., Schultz, A. A., Snelgrove‐Clarke, E., Stetler, C., Titler, M. G., et al. (2013) · Implementation Science · doi:10.1186/1748-5908-8-107 · Cited by 150 · see citing works
Self-citationLodenstein, E., Dieleman, M. A., Gerretsen, B., & Broerse, J. E. W. (2016) · Health Policy and Planning · doi:10.1093/heapol/czw089 · Cited by 145 · see citing works
The influence of combined oral contraceptives on female sexual desire: A systematic review
Pastor, Z., Hollá, K., & Chmel, R. (2013) · The European Journal of Contraception & Reproductive Health Care · doi:10.3109/13625187.2012.728643 · Cited by 135 · see citing works
Kirsh, S. R., Aron, D. C., Johnson, K. D., Santurri, L. E., Stevenson, L. D., Jones, K. R., & Jagosh, J. (2017) · BMC Health Services Research · doi:10.1186/s12913-017-2064-z · Cited by 134 · see citing works
Dryden‐Palmer, K., Parshuram, C. S., & Berta, W. B. (2020) · BMC Health Services Research · doi:10.1186/s12913-020-4935-y · Cited by 133 · see citing works
Implementation of safety checklists in surgery: a realist synthesis of evidence
Gillespie, B. M., & Marshall, A. (2015) · Implementation Science · doi:10.1186/s13012-015-0319-9 · Cited by 130 · see citing works
Kirst, M. J., Im, J., Burns, T., Baker, G. R., Goldhar, J., O'Campo, P. J., Wojtak, A., & Wodchis, W. P. (2017) · International Journal for Quality in Health Care · doi:10.1093/intqhc/mzx095 · Cited by 131 · see citing works
Hunter, R. L., Gorely, T., Beattie, M., & Harris, K. (2022) · International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology · doi:10.1080/1750984x.2021.1969674 · Cited by 123 · see citing works
Davis, M. M., Freeman, M., Shannon, J., Coronado, G. D., Stange, K. C., Guise, J., Wheeler, S. B., & Buckley, D. (2018) · BMC Cancer · doi:10.1186/s12885-017-3813-4 · Cited by 126 · see citing works
Parker, S. M., Prince, A., Thomas, L., Song, H. J., Milosevic, D., & Harris, M. (2018) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2017-019192 · Cited by 127 · see citing works
Flemming, K., Booth, A., Hannes, K., Cargo, M., & Noyes, J. (2017) · Journal of Clinical Epidemiology · doi:10.1016/j.jclinepi.2017.10.022 · Cited by 128 · see citing works
Engagement in research: an innovative three-stage review of the benefits for health-care performance
Hanney, S. R., Boaz, A., Jones, T. H., & Soper, B. (2013) · Health Services and Delivery Research · doi:10.3310/hsdr01080 · Cited by 121 · see citing works
The “realist search”: A systematic scoping review of current practice and reporting
Booth, A., Briscoe, S., & Wright, J. M. (2019) · Research Synthesis Methods · doi:10.1002/jrsm.1386 · Cited by 116 · see citing works
Hut-Mossel, L., Ahaus, K., Welker, G. A., & Gans, R. O. B. (2021) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0248677 · Cited by 129 · see citing works
Lubbe, W., ten Ham‐Baloyi, W., & Smit, K. (2020) · Journal of Neonatal Nursing · doi:10.1016/j.jnn.2020.04.006 · Cited by 116 · see citing works
Taking account of context in systematic reviews and guidelines considering a complexity perspective
Booth, A., Moore, G. F., Flemming, K., Garside, R., Rollins, N. C., Tunçalp, Ö., & Noyes, J. (2019) · BMJ Global Health · doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2018-000840 · Cited by 119 · see citing works
Deprescribing benzodiazepines and Z-drugs in community-dwelling adults: a scoping review
Pollmann, A. S., Murphy, A. L., Bergman, J. C., & Gardner, D. M. (2015) · BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology · doi:10.1186/s40360-015-0019-8 · Cited by 114 · see citing works
Systematic reviews: guidance relevant for studies of older people
Shenkin, S. D., Harrison, J. K., Wilkinson, T., Dodds, R. M., & Ioannidis, J. P. A. (2017) · Age and Ageing · doi:10.1093/ageing/afx105 · Cited by 109 · see citing works
Coles, E., Wells, M., Maxwell, M., Harris, F., Anderson, J. M., Gray, N. M., Milner, G., & MacGillivray, S. A. (2017) · Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1186/s13643-017-0566-8 · Cited by 112 · see citing works
Cooke, J., Gardois, P., & Booth, A. (2018) · Health Research Policy and Systems · doi:10.1186/s12961-018-0363-4 · Cited by 113 · see citing works
van Dael, J., Reader, T. W., Gillespie, A., Neves, A. L., Darzi, A. W., & Mayer, E. K. (2020) · BMJ Quality & Safety · doi:10.1136/bmjqs-2019-009704 · Cited by 118 · see citing works
Aunger, J. A., Millar, R. W., Greenhalgh, J., Mannion, R., Rafferty, A.-M., & McLeod, H. (2021) · Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1186/s13643-021-01630-8 · Cited by 111 · see citing works
Food and agricultural innovation pathways for prosperity
Tomich, T. P., Lidder, P., Coley, M., Gollin, D., Meinzen-Dick, R. S., Webb, P., & Carberry, P. (2018) · Agricultural Systems · doi:10.1016/j.agsy.2018.01.002 · Cited by 106 · see citing works
Greenhalgh, J., Pawson, R., Wright, J. M., Black, N. A., Valderas, J. M., Meads, D. M., Gibbons, E. J., Wood, L. R. J., Wood, C., Mills, C., et al. (2014) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2014-005601 · Cited by 105 · see citing works
Burnout and Leadership Style in Behavioral Health Care: a Literature Review
Kelly, R. J., & Hearld, L. R. (2020) · The Journal of Behavioral Health Services & Research · doi:10.1007/s11414-019-09679-z · Cited by 118 · see citing works
Shaffril, H. A. M., Samah, A. A., & Samsuddin, S. F. (2021) · Environmental Science and Pollution Research · doi:10.1007/s11356-021-13178-0 · Cited by 105 · see citing works
Pesce, C., Vazou, S., Benzing, V., Álvarez‐Bueno, C., Anzeneder, S., Mavilidi, M. F., Leone, L., & Schmidt, M. (2021) · International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology · doi:10.1080/1750984x.2021.1929404 · Cited by 108 · see citing works
Examining the Application of Retroductive Theorizing in Realist-Informed Studies
Mukumbang, F. C., Kabongo, E. M., & Eastwood, J. G. (2021) · International Journal of Qualitative Methods · doi:10.1177/16094069211053516 · Cited by 102 · see citing works
Mather, M., Pettigrew, L. M., & Navaratnam, S. (2022) · Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1186/s13643-022-02030-2 · Cited by 111 · see citing works
Can community-based peer support promote health literacy and reduce inequalities? A realist review
Harris, J., Springett, J., Croot, L., Booth, A., Campbell, F., Thompson, J., Goyder, E., Cleemput, P. V., Wilkins, E., & Yang, Y. (2015) · Public Health Research · doi:10.3310/phr03030 · Cited by 100 · see citing works
Effective health care for older people living and dying in care homes: a realist review
Goodman, C. M., Dening, T., Gordon, A. L., Davies, S. L., Meyer, J. E., Martin, F. C., Gladman, J. R. F., Bowman, C., Victor, C. R., Handley, M., et al. (2016) · BMC Health Services Research · doi:10.1186/s12913-016-1493-4 · Cited by 100 · see citing works
Czosnek, L., Lederman, O., Cormie, P., Zopf, E., Stubbs, B., & Rosenbaum, S. (2019) · Mental Health and Physical Activity · doi:10.1016/j.mhpa.2018.11.001 · Cited by 94 · see citing works
Reeve, J. L., Maden, M., Hill, R. A., Turk, A., Mahtani, K. R., Wong, G., Lasserson, D. S., Krska, J., Mangin, D. A., Byng, R., et al. (2022) · Health Technology Assessment · doi:10.3310/aafo2475 · Cited by 101 · see citing works
Haynes, A. S., Rowbotham, S. J., Redman, S., Brennan, S., Williamson, A. B., & Moore, G. (2018) · Health Research Policy and Systems · doi:10.1186/s12961-018-0277-1 · Cited by 104 · see citing works
How stakeholder participation can contribute to systematic reviews of complex interventions
Harris, J., Croot, L., Thompson, J., & Springett, J. (2015) · Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health · doi:10.1136/jech-2015-205701 · Cited by 95 · see citing works
Huxley, C. J., Atherton, H., Watkins, J. A., & Griffiths, F. (2015) · British Journal of General Practice · doi:10.3399/bjgp15x687853 · Cited by 86 · see citing works
Goodman, C. M., Davies, S. L., Gordon, A. L., Dening, T., Gage, H., Meyer, J. E., Schneider, J. M., Bell, B., Jordan, J., Martin, F. C., et al. (2017) · Health Services and Delivery Research · doi:10.3310/hsdr05290 · Cited by 85 · see citing works
Thapa, S., Hannes, K., Cargo, M., Buvé, A., Peters, S., Dauphin, S., & Matheï, C. (2018) · BMC Public Health · doi:10.1186/s12889-018-6156-4 · Cited by 85 · see citing works
Bergerum, C., Thor, J., Josefsson, K., & Wolmesjö, M. (2019) · Health Expectations · doi:10.1111/hex.12900 · Cited by 84 · see citing works
Kiss, L., Quinlan-Davidson, M., Pasquero, L., Tejero, P. O., Hogg, C. L., Theis, J., PARK, A. W., Zimmerman, C., & Hossain, M. (2020) · Conflict and Health · doi:10.1186/s13031-020-0254-5 · Cited by 79 · see citing works
MacDonald, M., Pauly, B., Wong, G., Schick‐Makaroff, K., van Roode, T., Strosher, H., Kothari, A. R., Valaitis, R. K., Manson, H. E., O’Briain, W., et al. (2016) · Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1186/s13643-016-0229-1 · Cited by 78 · see citing works
Mobile Health Interventions for Self-Control of Unhealthy Alcohol Use: Systematic Review
Song, T., Qian, S., & Yu, P. (2018) · JMIR mhealth and uhealth · doi:10.2196/10899 · Cited by 76 · see citing works
Brún, A. D., & McAuliffe, É. (2020) · BMC Health Services Research · doi:10.1186/s12913-020-05129-1 · Cited by 76 · see citing works
Lodenstein, E., Dieleman, M. A., Gerretsen, B., & Broerse, J. E. W. (2013) · Systematic Reviews · doi:10.1186/2046-4053-2-98 · Cited by 76 · see citing works
Aslam, R. W., Hendry, M., Booth, A., Carter, B., Charles, J. M., Craine, N., Edwards, R. T., Noyes, J., Ntambwe, L. I., Pasterfield, D., et al. (2017) · BMC Medicine · doi:10.1186/s12916-017-0904-7 · Cited by 71 · see citing works
Self-citationBenefits of realist evaluation for rapidly changing health service delivery
Jagosh, J., Stott, H., Halls, S., Thomas, R., Liddiard, C., Cupples, M., Cramp, F. L., Kersten, P., Foster, D., & Walsh, N. E. (2022) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2021-060347 · Cited by 73 · see citing works
Using technology to engage hospitalised patients in their care: a realist review
Roberts, S., Chaboyer, W. P., Crespo, R. A. G., & Marshall, A. P. (2017) · BMC Health Services Research · doi:10.1186/s12913-017-2314-0 · Cited by 76 · see citing works
Evaluating Climate Change Action for Sustainable Development
van den Berg, R. D., Puri, J., & Uitto, J. I. (2017) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-43702-6 · Cited by 69 · see citing works
Whitaker, R., Hendry, M., Aslam, R. W., Booth, A., Carter, B., Charles, J. M., Craine, N., Edwards, R. T., Noyes, J., Ntambwe, L. I., et al. (2016) · Health Technology Assessment · doi:10.3310/hta20160 · Cited by 67 · see citing works
Self-citationTowards a programme theory for fidelity in the evaluation of complex interventions
Masterson‐Algar, P., Burton, C. R., Rycroft‐Malone, J., Sackley, C. M., & Walker, M. F. (2014) · Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice · doi:10.1111/jep.12174 · Cited by 67 · see citing works
Self-citationVarieties of Integrative Scholarship
McGaghie, W. C. (2014) · Academic Medicine · doi:10.1097/acm.0000000000000585 · Cited by 67 · see citing works
Use of 3D Printing for Medical Education Models in Transplantation Medicine: a Critical Review
O’Brien, E. K., Wayne, D. B., Barsness, K. A., McGaghie, W. C., & Barsuk, J. H. (2016) · Current Transplantation Reports · doi:10.1007/s40472-016-0088-7 · Cited by 66 · see citing works
Unpacking the Black Box of Wilderness Therapy
Fernee, C. R., Gabrielsen, L. E., Andersen, A. J. W., & Mesel, T. (2016) · Qualitative Health Research · doi:10.1177/1049732316655776 · Cited by 67 · see citing works
Exploring the theoretical foundations of visual art programmes for people living with dementia
Windle, G., Gregory, S. E. A., Howson-Griffiths, T., Newman, A., O’Brien, D., & Goulding, A. (2017) · Dementia · doi:10.1177/1471301217726613 · Cited by 65 · see citing works
Capturing outcomes of competency-based medical education: The call and the challenge
Melle, E. V., Hall, A. K., Schumacher, D. J., Kinnear, B., Gruppen, L. D., Thoma, B., Caretta‐Weyer, H. A., Cooke, L., Frank, J. R., & Collaborators, O. B. O. T. I. (2021) · Medical Teacher · doi:10.1080/0142159x.2021.1925640 · Cited by 64 · see citing works
Making implementation science more real
Sarkies, M., Francis‐Auton, E., Long, J. C., Pomare, C., Hardwick, R., & Braithwaite, J. (2022) · BMC Medical Research Methodology · doi:10.1186/s12874-022-01661-2 · Cited by 66 · see citing works
A theory-based evaluation of food waste policy: Evidence from Italy
Busetti, S. (2019) · Food Policy · doi:10.1016/j.foodpol.2019.101749 · Cited by 64 · see citing works
Rycroft‐Malone, J., Burton, C. R., Wilkinson, J. E., Harvey, G., McCormack, B. G., Baker, R., Dopson, S., Graham, I. D., Staniszewska, S. H., Thompson, C. A., et al. (2015) · Health Services and Delivery Research · doi:10.3310/hsdr03440 · Cited by 64 · see citing works
Self-citationImproving best practice for patients receiving hospital discharge letters: a realist review
Weetman, K., Wong, G., Scott, E. J., Mackenzie, E., Schnurr, S., & Dale, J. R. (2019) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2018-027588 · Cited by 59 · see citing works
Froggatt, K. A., Best, A., Bunn, F., Burnside, G., Coast, J., Dunleavy, L., Goodman, C. M., Hardwick, B., Jackson, C., Kinley, J., et al. (2020) · Health Technology Assessment · doi:10.3310/hta24060 · Cited by 63 · see citing works
Sharma, N., Harris, E., Lloyd, J. E., Mistry, S. K., & Harris, M. (2019) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2019-031666 · Cited by 63 · see citing works
Melle, E. V., Gruppen, L. D., Holmboe, E. S., Flynn, L., Oandasan, I., & Frank, J. R. (2016) · Academic Medicine · doi:10.1097/acm.0000000000001479 · Cited by 60 · see citing works
Mukumbang, F. C., Belle, S. V., Marchal, B., & van Wyk, B. E. (2016) · BMJ Open · doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2015-009977 · Cited by 59 · see citing works
McVeigh, J., MacLachlan, M., Gilmore, B., McClean, C., Eide, A. H., Mannan, H., Geiser, P., Duttine, A., Mji, G., McAuliffe, É., et al. (2016) · Globalization and Health · doi:10.1186/s12992-016-0182-8 · Cited by 59 · see citing works
Klingberg, S., Draper, C. E., Micklesfield, L. K., Benjamin‐Neelon, S. E., & van Sluijs, E. M. F. (2019) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph16071212 · Cited by 59 · see citing works
How Law Shapes Collaborative Forest Governance: A Focus on Indigenous Peoples in Canada and India
Nikolakis, W. D., & Hotte, N. (2019) · Society & Natural Resources · doi:10.1080/08941920.2019.1605433 · Cited by 58 · see citing works
A systematic review of studies examining effectiveness of therapeutic communities
Magor-Blatch, L. E., Bhullar, N., Thomson, B., & Thorsteinsson, E. (2014) · Therapeutic Communities The International Journal of Therapeutic Communities · doi:10.1108/tc-07-2013-0024 · Cited by 58 · see citing works
Labour inspections and the prevention of psychosocial risks at work: A realist synthesis
Weissbrodt, R., & Giauque, D. (2017) · Safety Science · doi:10.1016/j.ssci.2017.02.012 · Cited by 58 · see citing works
Watkins, K. D. (2016) · Journal of Interprofessional Care · doi:10.1080/13561820.2016.1209466 · Cited by 57 · see citing works
Balancing health care education and patient care in the UK workplace: a realist synthesis
Sholl, S., Ajjawi, R., Allbutt, H., Butler, J., Jindal‐Snape, D., Morrison, J., & Rees, C. E. (2017) · Medical Education · doi:10.1111/medu.13290 · Cited by 58 · see citing works
Gilanyi, Y. L., Shah, B., Cashin, A. G., Gibbs, M. T., Bellamy, J., Day, R. O., McAuley, J. H., & Jones, M. D. (2024) · Pain · doi:10.1097/j.pain.0000000000003234 · Cited by 56 · see citing works
Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in goats and sheep in Zimbabwe
Hove, T., Lind, P., & Mukaratirwa, S. (2005) · Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research · doi:10.4102/ojvr.v72i4.175 · Cited by 55 · see citing works
- Authors
- Rycroft-Malone, J., McCormack, B., Hutchinson, A. M., DeCorby, K., Bucknall, T. K., Kent, B., Schultz, A., Snelgrove-Clarke, E., Stetler, C. B., Titler, M., Wallin, L., & Wilson, V.
- Affiliations
- University of Ulster (GB)
- Deakin University (AU)
- McMaster University (CA)
- Boston University (US)
- University of Michigan (US)
- Karolinska Institutet (SE)
- Venue
- Implementation Science
- Published
- 2012-04-19
- Volume
- 7
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 33-33
- ISSN
- 1748-5908 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC3514310
- OpenAlex
- W2097730860
- Cited by
- 742
- References
- 32
- Citations by year
- 2026: 54 · 2025: 71 · 2024: 92 · 2023: 66 · 2022: 84 · 2021: 82 · 2020: 55 · 2019: 46 · 2018: 48 · 2017: 49 · 2016: 29 · 2015: 27 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 34.69
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Implementation Science (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Queen Margaret University Publications Repository (Queen Margaret University) (acceptedVersion)
- PEARL (University of Plymouth) (submittedVersion)
- Research Online (University of Wollongong) (submittedVersion)
- Deep Blue (University of Michigan) (submittedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Lancaster EPrints (Lancaster University) (submittedVersion)
- Queen Margaret University Publications Repository (Queen Margaret University) (submittedVersion)
- Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- UTS ePRESS (University of Technology Sydney) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Policy Implementation Science
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Statistics, Probability and Uncertainty › Meta-analysis and systematic reviews
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Evaluation and Performance Assessment
- Keywords
- realist synthesis, realist review, causal mechanisms, change agency, implementation research, complex interventions, theoretical framework, data extraction, hypothesis generation
- MeSH terms
- Health Services Research, Humans, Review Literature as Topic, Evidence-Based Medicine
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
