Process evaluations of complex interventions
The UK Medical Research Council has published guidance to inform users how to conduct a process evaluation of an intervention which has multiple components.
A process evaluation is a study which aims to provide a detailed understanding of how an intervention functions. This is achieved through examining the implementation of an intervention, the mechanism by which it makes an impact and any contextual factors which may influence it. A process evaluation is necessary to allow policy makers, practitioners and researchers to identify whether an intervention was delivered according to the plan that was initially set out and learn how to improve those that did adhere to the plan.
The document provides guidance to plan, design, conduct and appraise a process evaluation of a complex intervention. This is broken into two core sections:
- Process evaluation theory brings together a range of theories and frameworks which can inform a process evaluation.
- Process evaluation practice provides a practical ‘how to’ guide on how to carry out a process evaluation.
While accepting that process evaluations may differ considerably, this document hopes to provide useful guidance to think through key decisions that need to be made when developing a process evaluation or appraising its quality.
The guidance is intended for use by a wide audience including researchers, practitioners, funders, journal editors and policy makers.
