Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37420258›Full record

ArticleSystematic reviews2023

Overcoming challenges in conducting systematic reviews in implementation science: a methods commentary.

Anna Chapman, Nicole M Rankin, Hannah Jongebloed, Sze Lin Yoong, Victoria White, Patricia M Livingston, Alison M Hutchinson, Anna Ugalde

Abstract readLetter
In one paragraph

Article in Systematic reviews, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 12 papers, 7 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
12citing papers in PubMed, 7 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

12 citing papers in PubMed, 7 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Anna ChapmanCentre for Quality and Patient Safety Research, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia. a.chapman@deakin.edu.au.ORCID 0000-0001-7965-4098
Nicole M RankinSchool of Population and Global Health, Centre for Health Policy, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Hannah JongebloedCentre for Quality and Patient Safety Research, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
Sze Lin YoongGlobal Centre for Preventive Health and Nutrition, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
Victoria WhiteSchool of Psychology, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
Patricia M LivingstonCentre for Quality and Patient Safety Research, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
Alison M HutchinsonCentre for Quality and Patient Safety Research, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.
Anna UgaldeCentre for Quality and Patient Safety Research, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Health, Institute for Health Transformation, Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Consolidation of the literature using systematic reviews is a critical way to advance a discipline and support evidence-based decision-making in healthcare. However, unique challenges exist that impact the conduct of systematic reviews in implementation science. In this commentary, we reflect on our combined experience to describe five key challenges unique to systematic reviews of primary implementation research. These challenges include (1) descriptors used in implementation science publications, (2) distinction between evidence-based interventions and implementation strategies, (3) assessment of external validity, (4) synthesis of implementation studies with substantial clinical and methodological diversity, and (5) variability in defining implementation 'success'. We outline possible solutions and highlight resources that can be used by authors of primary implementation research, as well as systematic review and editorial teams, to overcome the identified challenges and optimise the utility of future systematic reviews in implementation science.

Indexed as

Implementation ScienceResearch DesignHumansSystematic Reviews as TopicDisseminationImplementationImplementation scienceKnowledge translationSystematic review

Identifiers

PMID37420258
PMCPMC10327144

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.