Making process evaluations more explanatory – key opportunities to advance implementation research
Abstract
Process evaluation of implementation strategies is increasingly common, but a review by Bracci et al. showed that room for improvement exists. In this contribution, we complement their recommendations by ideas on the design of process evaluations. Process evaluations are meant to provide explanations for why implementation strategies were effective, or not effective. Therefore, they are best guided by theory or frameworks, but the frequent focus on intervention acceptability reflects a lack of imagination on moderators and mediators that influence outcomes. Intervention fidelity is relevant in all process evaluations. Meaningful synthesis of process evaluation studies requires a homogeneous outcome, such as uptake of practices.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Health Policy Implementation Science
Evaluation and Performance Assessment
Participatory Visual Research Methods
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Implementation Science
- Publisher
- Springer Science and Business Media LLC
- Volume
- 21
- Issue
- 1
- Publication date
- 12 May 2026
- Language
- EN