Realist review: an introductory workshop

Article type
Authors
Cargo M1, Harris J2, Jagosh J3, Pearson M4, Greenhalgh J5
1University of South Australia, Australia
2University of Sheffield, United Kingdom
3McGill Unviersity, Canada
4University of Exeter Medical School, United Kingdom
5University of Leeds, United Kingdom
Abstract
Objectives:

Explain the logic and key ingredients of realist review—Practice applying realist logic Explore when and why realist review is useful—Address participants’ questions concerning realist review.

Description:

Synthesising evidence on many healthcare and public health interventions is challenging as they are ‘complex’- consisting of long implementation chains, multiple components that interact independently, inter-dependently and/or non-linearly with emergent effects and context dependent outcomes. One approach to making sense of complex interventions is by using theory. Realist review identifies and refines theories that explain how and why outcomes occur. Specifically it seeks to unpack and understand causation using a realist philosophical lens. Briefly, causation is generative-outcomes occur because mechanisms cause them to. Context influences if a mechanism is triggered and interventions and/or programmes work through altering context. In this workshop we will explain what realism and a realist review is, when it might be used and provide attendees with hands on ‘practice’. Structured workshop plan: Introductions and Objectives: 5 minutes presentation—What is realism? 10 plus 10 minutes for questions—What is a realist review? 10 plus 10minutes for questions—Practice applying realist logic: 20 minutes-in small facilitated groups—Feedback to larger group: 20 minutes—Summary and closing: 5 minutes.