Process evaluations nested in randomised controlled trials of complex interventions: a scoping review of approaches and reporting.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The United Kingdom Medical Research Council (MRC) guidance for complex interventions recommends the nesting of process evaluations in randomised controlled trials (RCTs) of complex interventions. To date, there has been limited review of how the MRC guidance has been operationalised in RCTs of complex interventions.

Objectives

This scoping review aimed to identify how process evaluations nested in RCTs on complex interventions have been conducted and reported since the 2015 publication of MRC guidance.

Methods

We identified articles in PubMed and Scopus that cited the 2015 main journal article on the MRC guidance and applied an RCT filter to these articles. Studies reporting on RCT nested process evaluations in any field of health or social care were includ

SUBMITTER: Kletter M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12312533 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature