Realist evaluation of Belgian pilot projects for paediatric transmural care: protocol for a mixed methods study.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

The Belgian healthcare system is to a large extent hospital-centred, prompting government initiatives to shift care towards patient's homes and reduce hospital stays. To avoid unnecessary hospital stays and offer alternative and innovative forms of care, the Belgian federal health authorities selected five pilot projects for transmural care for chronically ill children. Guided by the Medical Research Council framework, this study aims to evaluate the paediatric transmural care projects to inform new models for paediatric care.

Methods and analysis

Using a mixed-methods realist evaluation, the study comprises three phases: (1) initial programme theory development, (2) initial programme theory testing and (3) programme theory refinement. In a first phase, the init

SUBMITTER: Dequeker S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12198840 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature