Process evaluation design with realist evaluation framework following realist evaluation principles outlined by Pawson et al41 and Pawson and Tiller42
| Realist evaluation component | Process evaluation component | Data sources | Data collection timetable | Data analysis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Context | Process and service network mapping | Interviews with service staff | Baseline | Qualitative/thematic changes and network analysis |
| Service document scan | Baseline and follow-up | Monitoring for key decision-making moments | ||
| Interviews with staff in collaborating services in the network | Baseline and follow-up | Qualitative/thematic changes and network analysis | ||
| Mechanism | Intervention development | Number of education workshops with service staff | Baseline and intervention phase | Numeric |
| Workshop evaluations/rating | Baseline | Likert scale compilations and comparisons | ||
| Number of distinct intervention strategies developed | Baseline | Numeric | ||
| Intervention implementation | Number and proportion of distinct strategies put into practice | Intervention | Numeric | |
| Outcomes | Increased proportion of target group screened/referred | Service records | From baseline to follow-up | Repeated measures of proportions of client screened |
| Increased staff knowledge and practices | Knowledge, attitudes and practices survey | Baseline and follow-up | Qualitative/thematic changes and change in network characteristics |