Development of a program theory for clinical pathways in hospitals: protocol for a realist review.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Despite the increased utilization of clinical pathways (CPWs) as a strategy to improve patient and system outcomes in hospitals, there remain ongoing challenges with their conceptualization, implementation, and evaluation. Theories that explain how CPWs work in hospitals are lacking, making it difficult to identify important factors for sustaining changes arising from CPWs implemented in hospitals. The objective of this realist review is to develop a program theory for CPWs in hospitals.

Methods

This is a protocol for a realist review. The review will use a six-step iterative process to develop a program theory for CPWs in hospitals: (1) development of a preliminary program theory; (2) search strategy and literature search; (3) study selection and appraisal; (4) d

SUBMITTER: Lawal AK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6556023 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature