Skip to main content

Research Repository

Advanced Search

Understanding how appraisal of doctors produces its effects: A realist review protocol

Brennan, N.; Bryce, M.; Pearson, M.; Wong, G.; Cooper, C.; Archer, J.

Authors

N. Brennan

M. Bryce

G. Wong

C. Cooper

J. Archer



Abstract

Introduction: UK doctors are now required to participate in revalidation to maintain their licence to practise. Appraisal is a fundamental component of revalidation. However, objective evidence of appraisal changing doctors' behaviour and directly resulting in improved patient care is limited. In particular, it is not clear how the process of appraisal is supposed to change doctors' behaviour and improve clinical performance. The aim of this research is to understand how and why appraisal of doctors is supposed to produce its effect. Methods and analysis: Realist review is a theory-driven interpretive approach to evidence synthesis. It applies realist logic of inquiry to produce an explanatory analysis of an intervention that is, what works, for whom, in what circumstances, in what respects. Using a realist review approach, an initial programme theory of appraisal will be developed by consulting with key stakeholders in doctors' appraisal in expert panels (ethical approval is not required), and by searching the literature to identify relevant existing theories. The search strategy will have a number of phases including a combination of: (1) electronic database searching, for example, EMBASE, MEDLINE, the Cochrane Library, ASSIA, (2) 'cited by' articles search, (3) citation searching, (4) contacting authors and (5) grey literature searching. The search for evidence will be iteratively extended and refocused as the review progresses. Studies will be included based on their ability to provide data that enable testing of the programme theory. Data extraction will be conducted, for example, by note taking and annotation at different review stages as is consistent with the realist approach. The evidence will be synthesised using realist logic to interrogate the final programme theory of the impact of appraisal on doctors' performance. The synthesis results will be written up according to RAMESES guidelines and disseminated through peer-reviewed publication and presentations. Trial registration number: The protocol is registered with PROSPERO 2014:CRD42014007092.

Citation

Brennan, N., Bryce, M., Pearson, M., Wong, G., Cooper, C., & Archer, J. (2014). Understanding how appraisal of doctors produces its effects: A realist review protocol. BMJ open, 4(6), Article e005466. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2014-005466

Journal Article Type Review
Acceptance Date Jun 2, 2014
Online Publication Date Jun 23, 2014
Publication Date Jun 23, 2014
Deposit Date Jul 27, 2018
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal BMJ Open
Print ISSN 2044-6055
Electronic ISSN 2044-6055
Publisher BMJ Publishing Group
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 4
Issue 6
Article Number e005466
DOI https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2014-005466
Public URL https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/951595
Publisher URL https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/4/6/e005466

Files

Article (635 Kb)
PDF

Copyright Statement
This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/





You might also like



Downloadable Citations