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Table 1 Mixed method process evaluation of the Social Fitness Programme

From: Evaluating the social fitness Programme for older people with cognitive problems and their caregivers: lessons learned from a failed trial

Focus and operationalisation

Method

Analysis

1.Implementation Reach & Recruitment: Reasons for participation and reasons to decline participation.

Records from telephone interviews

Content analysis of records from telephone interviews by research assistant with referring professionals and with people who seemed willing to participate.

Adherence: Intervention dose delivered and intervention dose received by participants.

Case vignettes and medical records

Focussed analysis through predefined checklists to assess case vignettes and medical records. The checklist focussed on: elements of the problem analysis, use of shared-decision making during goal setting, intervention delivery (consistency between treatment plan and intervention goals, consistency between goals and intervention delivery, and interdisciplinary cooperation)

Fidelity: Quality of intervention delivery.

Adaptations:

Changes that undermine fidelity.

Medical records from OT and PT professionals involved in intervention delivery using checklists

Analysis of medical records, focused on:

- Description of intervention delivery and adaptations

- Consistence of the intervention goals with the problem analysis

- Professionals’ evaluation of intervention delivery

2.Context of intervention delivery:

External elements influencing implementation or effects.

Focus groups and interviews with professionals involved in intervention delivery, using a structured topic list

Content analysis on elements influencing implementation or effects

Focus group evaluation of the Social Fitness Programme, topics:

- The guideline

- Individual knowledge, skills and behaviour

- Client and caregiver factors

- Interactions with other professionals

- Incentives and recourses

- Required organisational changes

3.Impact of intervention delivery:

Potential impact of intervention delivery on participants

Interviews with client-caregiver couples assigned to the intervention group, using a structured topic list

Content analysis on participants’ evaluations on participating in the study.

Interview topic list:

- How did you evaluate participation in the Social Fitness Programme?

- Did you gain anything?

- Were your expectations met?

- What should be changed to improve the programme?

  1. OT Occupational Therapy, PT Physiotherapy