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Mechanisms, contexts and points of contention: operationalizing realist-informed research for complex health interventions.
- Source :
-
BMC medical research methodology [BMC Med Res Methodol] 2018 Dec 27; Vol. 18 (1), pp. 178. Date of Electronic Publication: 2018 Dec 27. - Publication Year :
- 2018
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Abstract
- Background: The concept of "mechanism" is central to realist approaches to research, yet research teams struggle to operationalize and apply the concept in empirical research. Our large, interdisciplinary research team has also experienced challenges in making the concept useful in our study of the implementation of models of integrated community-based primary health care (ICBPHC) in three international jurisdictions (Ontario and Quebec in Canada, and in New Zealand).<br />Methods: In this paper we summarize definitions of mechanism found in realist methodological literature, and report an empirical example of a realist analysis of the implementation ICBPHC.<br />Results: We use our empirical example to illustrate two points. First, the distinction between contexts and mechanisms might ultimately be arbitrary, with more distally located mechanisms becoming contexts as research teams focus their analytic attention more proximally to the outcome of interest. Second, the relationships between mechanisms, human reasoning, and human agency need to be considered in greater detail to inform realist-informed analysis; understanding these relationships is fundamental to understanding the ways in which mechanisms operate through individuals and groups to effect the outcomes of complex health interventions.<br />Conclusions: We conclude our paper with reflections on human agency and outline the implications of our analysis for realist research and realist evaluation.
- Subjects :
- Biomedical Research methods
Biomedical Research statistics & numerical data
Evidence-Based Medicine methods
Evidence-Based Medicine standards
Humans
New Zealand
Ontario
Patient Care Team statistics & numerical data
Primary Health Care methods
Primary Health Care statistics & numerical data
Quebec
Research Design standards
Biomedical Research standards
Interdisciplinary Communication
Patient Care Team standards
Primary Health Care standards
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1471-2288
- Volume :
- 18
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- BMC medical research methodology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 30587138
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s12874-018-0641-4