Article type
Year
Abstract
Objectives:
for systematic reviews to discuss—What is theory—Why and how theory may help—Different ways theory can be incorporated—Challenges in using theory.
Description:
Evidence synthesis of many healthcare and public health interventions is challenging as they are ‘complex’-consisting of long implementation chains, multiple components interacting independently, inter-dependently and/or non-linearly with emergent effects and context dependent outcomes. Increasingly, there are calls for using theory in systematic reviews as one approach to understanding how complex interventions work to achieve outcomes. However, there is confusion as to what is meant by ‘theory’, why it is needed in the first place and how it can be incorporated. Even when theory is incorporated, methodological challenges arise. In this workshop we will discuss the different conceptualisations of theory, why and how theory can assist reviews and the methodological challenges of doing so. Structured workshop plan—Introductions and bjectives: 5 minutes presentation—What is theory? 10 plus 10 minutes for questions—Why use theory? 10 plus 10 minutes for questions—Applying theory in different systematic review types: Examples from completed reviews where theory has been used (20 minutes, small facilitated groups).—Feedback to larger group: 20 minutes—Summary and closing: 5 minutes.
for systematic reviews to discuss—What is theory—Why and how theory may help—Different ways theory can be incorporated—Challenges in using theory.
Description:
Evidence synthesis of many healthcare and public health interventions is challenging as they are ‘complex’-consisting of long implementation chains, multiple components interacting independently, inter-dependently and/or non-linearly with emergent effects and context dependent outcomes. Increasingly, there are calls for using theory in systematic reviews as one approach to understanding how complex interventions work to achieve outcomes. However, there is confusion as to what is meant by ‘theory’, why it is needed in the first place and how it can be incorporated. Even when theory is incorporated, methodological challenges arise. In this workshop we will discuss the different conceptualisations of theory, why and how theory can assist reviews and the methodological challenges of doing so. Structured workshop plan—Introductions and bjectives: 5 minutes presentation—What is theory? 10 plus 10 minutes for questions—Why use theory? 10 plus 10 minutes for questions—Applying theory in different systematic review types: Examples from completed reviews where theory has been used (20 minutes, small facilitated groups).—Feedback to larger group: 20 minutes—Summary and closing: 5 minutes.