AHRQ series on complex intervention systematic reviews-paper 2: defining complexity, formulating scope, and questions

Michael P Kelly; Jane Noyes; Robert L Kane; Christine Chang; Stacey Uhl; Karen A Robinson; Stacey Springs; Mary E Butler; Jeanne-Marie Guise

doi:10.1016/j.jclinepi.2017.06.012

AHRQ series on complex intervention systematic reviews-paper 2: defining complexity, formulating scope, and questions

J Clin Epidemiol. 2017 Oct:90:11-18. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2017.06.012. Epub 2017 Jul 15.

Authors

Michael P Kelly¹, Jane Noyes², Robert L Kane³, Christine Chang⁴, Stacey Uhl⁵, Karen A Robinson⁶, Stacey Springs⁷, Mary E Butler⁸, Jeanne-Marie Guise⁹

Affiliations

¹ Primary Care Unit, Institute of Public Health, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, Forvie Site, Cambridge, CB2 0SR, UK. Electronic address: mk744@medschl.cam.ac.uk.
² School of Social Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2DG, UK.
³ Minnesota Chair in Long-term Care and Aging, University of Minnesota School of Public Health. Minnesota Evidence-based Practice Center, D381 Mayo (MMC 197), 420 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
⁴ AHRQ's Evidence-based Practice Center Program, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20857, USA.
⁵ ECRI Institute, 5200 Butler Pike, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462-1298, USA.
⁶ Johns Hopkins University Evidence-based Practice Center, 615 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
⁷ Center for Evidence Synthesis in Health, Brown University, Box G-S121-8, School of Public Health, Providence, RI 02912, USA.
⁸ University of Minnesota School of Public Health, Minnesota Evidence-based Practice Center, D381 Mayo (MMC 197), 420 Delaware Street SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA.
⁹ Scientific Resource Center for the AHRQ Effective Health Care Program, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine, Department of Medical Informatics & Outcomes Research School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA; Department of Emergency Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA; Oregon Health & Science University-Portland State University School of Public Health, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, Oregon 97239, USA.

PMID: 28720514
DOI: 10.1016/j.jclinepi.2017.06.012

Abstract

Background: The early stages of a systematic review set the scope and expectations. This can be particularly challenging for complex interventions given their multidimensional and dynamic nature.

Rationale: This paper builds on concepts introduced in paper 1 of this series. It describes the methodological, practical, and philosophical challenges and potential approaches for formulating the questions and scope of systematic reviews of complex interventions. Furthermore, it discusses the use of theory to help organize reviews of complex interventions.

Discussion: Many interventions in medicine, public health, education, social services, behavioral health, and community programs are complex, and they may not fit neatly within the established paradigm for reviews of straightforward interventions. This paper provides conceptual and operational guidance for these early stages of scope formulation to assist authors of systematic reviews of complex interventions.

Keywords: Complex interventions; Evidence-based medicine; Qualitative research; Research design; Review literature as topic; Systematic review.

MeSH terms

Data Interpretation, Statistical
Delphi Technique
Evidence-Based Medicine
Guidelines as Topic
Humans
Research Design*
Review Literature as Topic*

Grants and funding

K12 HS022998/HS/AHRQ HHS/United States