Improving the sustainability of hospital-based interventions: a study protocol for a systematic review

Julie Cowie, Pauline Campbell, Elena Dimcheva Dimova, Avril Nicoll, Edward Duncan

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)
163 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Sustaining effective interventions in hospital environments is essential to improving health outcomes, and reducing research waste. Current evidence suggests many interventions are not sustained beyond their initial delivery. The reason for this failure remains unclear. Increasingly research is employing theoretical frameworks and models to identify critical factors that influence the implementation of interventions. However, little is known about the value of these frameworks on sustainability. The aim of this review is to examine the evidence regarding the use of theoretical frameworks to maximise effective intervention sustainability in hospital-based settings in order to better understand their role in supporting long-term intervention use. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Systematic review. We will systematically search the following databases: Medline, AMED, CINAHL, Embase and Cochrane Library (CENTRAL, CDSR, DARE, HTA). We will also hand search relevant journals and will check the bibliographies of all included studies. Language and date limitations will be applied. We will include empirical studies that have used a theoretical framework (or model) and have explicitly reported the sustainability of an intervention (or programme). One reviewer will remove obviously irrelevant titles. The remaining abstracts and full-text articles will be screened by two independent reviewers to determine their eligibility for inclusion. Disagreements will be resolved by discussion, and may involve a third reviewer if required. Key study characteristics will be extracted (study design, population demographics, setting, evidence of sustained change, use of theoretical frameworks and any barriers or facilitators data reported) by one reviewer and cross-checked by another reviewer. Descriptive data will be tabulated within evidence tables, and key findings will be brought together within a narrative synthesis. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Formal ethical approval is not required as no primary data will be collected. Dissemination of results will be through peer-reviewed journal publications, presentation at an international conference and social media. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42017081992.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere025069
Number of pages17
JournalBMJ Open
Volume8
Issue number9
Early online date5 Sept 2018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 5 Sept 2018

Keywords

  • hospital setting
  • sustainability
  • implementation
  • systematic review
  • theory
  • organisation of health services
  • change management
  • quality in health care
  • quality improvement/organization & administration
  • humans
  • delivery of health care/methods
  • systematic reviews as topic
  • research design

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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