Designing and evaluating complex interventions to improve health care

Abstract

OverviewWe found it helpful to consider phases 0, 1, and 2 of the stepwise approach as part of one larger iterative activity rather than as sequential stages (box 2). We found we needed data to clarify our understanding of the context of the research, the problem we sought to tackle, the intervention, and the evaluation (figure⇓).1 Research on all these areas can be conducted simultaneously. In the following sections, we outline the important contextual considerations, describe the aim of each of three main components (problem definition, intervention, and evaluation), the key tasks necessary to meet each aim, and the conceptual and research approaches helpful in achieving the key tasks.View larger version: In this window In a new window Relation between context, problem definition, intervention, and evaluation for complex interventions