Table 3 The top five most reported benefits of utilising NPT with a direct quotation as a narrative example

1. Understanding the dynamics of implementation processes (n = 28)

‘NPT provided an explanatory focus through its emphasis on human agency. By elucidating differences in implementation processes over time and between settings and various actors, we have been able to develop a nuanced understanding of intervention fidelity moving beyond whether it ‘worked’ or not’ [102] p 13

2. Identifying themes, key issues and factors that promote and inhibit implementation (n = 27)

‘For this study specific benefits were that NPT was used to generate the focus group and interview topic guides and to analyse the resulting dataset allowed us to identify factors that were likely to promote and inhibit the incorporation of this novel exercise promotion tool into an Irish primary health care environment’ [78]. p 8

3. Analysing data (n = 22)

‘The use of the four NPT constructs as an analytic framework enabled us to provide an understanding of how the AMBER care bundle did, and in many instances could not become normalised within an acute hospital setting’ [87] p 19

4. Identifying changes for future improvement and sustainable integration (n = 15)

‘The use of NPT in ACCEPt has also led to research in understanding sustainability in general practice and may be helpful for stakeholders in increasing effectiveness of implementing future interventions’ [114] p 6

5. Analysing multiple perspectives (n = 13)

‘Using NPT increased our understanding about how providers and patients individually saw the HT intervention in comparison to usual care in general and in relation to teamwork (Coherence), how the team collectively bought into the new model of care (Cognitive Participation), how providers put the intervention into action (Collective Action), and how providers and patients appraised it (Reflexive Monitoring)’ [110] p 11