Recommendations for improving reporting of CONtextual analySis in implEmeNtation Science (CONSENS): A Delphi survey
Brief project description
Background: Implementation science supports a successful translation of evidence in real world practice and by that improves health care quality and effectiveness. Contextual analysis is an important part of the implementation science methodology and pivotal in informing subsequent phases of implementation science projects, such as intervention development / adaption, choice of contextually adapted implementation strategies and interpretation of outcomes. Contextual analysis entails the mapping of relevant contextual and setting factors to understand practice patterns and context in which an intervention will be delivered. The Basel Approach for coNtextual ANAlysis (BANANA) provides methodological guidance on how to conduct a contextual analysis. It entails the six components of which reporting contextual analysis is one. However, existing reporting guidelines lack specificity regarding how contextual analysis should be reported. This deficiency leads to variations and gaps in reporting that turn contextual analysis into a “black box” and diminish its contribution over the course of implementation science projects.
Aim: In order to strengthen the reporting of contextual analysis, this project aims to build consensus on a list of items relevant to the reporting of contextual analysis in implementation science that can complement existing implementation science reporting guidelines.
Methods: This study will employ a modified E-Delphi design to build consensus on a list of items relevant to contextual analysis reporting. Over two to three rounds, experts will rate the relevance and clarity of items. In addition, during the first round, experts can either suggest modifications to the initial items or propose new items to be added to subsequent rounds.
CONSENS core group: A core group consisting of CONSENS project leads and further international implementation science experts will be built.
Expert group: We will purposively select implementation science experts across all continents representing diverse fields (e.g., public health, medicine, health education science, psychology) and positions (researchers, implementation science practitioners, journal editors, funders) in implementation science.
Expected benefit: This study aims to offer consensus-based recommendations for reporting contextual analysis in implementation science projects. By systematically reporting theoretical foundations, methodological approaches, and findings, researchers can avoid “blind spots” in contextual analysis reporting and enhance the quality and success of their implementation efforts. Utilizing these recommendations can complement existing implementation science reporting guidelines (e.g., Standards for Reporting implementation Studies (StaRI)), providing researchers with a valuable tool to improve the transparency and effectiveness of their work.
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Project team members
- Sabina De Geest (Prof. Dr.), Institute of Nursing Science, Department Public Health, University of Basel, Switzerland, Academic Center for Nursing and Midwifery, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven, Belgium
- Joy Meli, Institute of Nursing Science, Department Public Health, University of Basel
- CONSENS Core group:
- Lauren Clack (Prof. Dr.), Institute for Implementation Science in Health Care, University of Zurich, Switzerland, Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland
- Suzanne Dhaini (Dr.), University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Eleonore Foundation, Zurich, Switzerland, Institute of Nursing Science, Department Public Health, University of Basel, Switzerland
- Freeman Matthew (Prof. Dr.), Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Raphaëlle-Ashley Guerbaaii (Dr.), Rehabilitation, Ageing and Independent Living (RAIL) Research Center, School of Primary and Allied Health Care, Monash University, Frankston, Victoria, Australia
- Grace Mhalu (Dr.), Department of Health Systems, Impact Evaluation and Policy, Ifakara Health Institute, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, The Neslon Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology, Arusha, Tanzania
- Lisa Pfadenhauer (Dr.), Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry and Epidemiology, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany, Pettenkofer School of Public Health, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Germany
- Hilary Pinnock (Prof. Dr. ), Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, UK
- Shari Rogal (Prof. Dr.), Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, USA
- Marie Schneider (Prof. Dr.), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, Switzerland /, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, Switzerland
- Sarah Serhal (Dr.), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, Switzerland /, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, Switzerland
- Alexandra Ziemann (Prof. Dr.), Department of Social & Policy Sciences, University of Bath, UK
- Leah L. Zullig (Prof. Dr.), Center of Innovation to Accelerate Discovery and Practice Transformation, Durham Veterans Affairs Health Care System, Durham, NC, USA, Department of Population Health Sciences, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, USA