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Table 1 Data collection during stages 1 and 2 to formulate and refine programme theories

From: Evaluating the implementation of a national clinical programme for diabetes to standardise and improve services: a realist evaluation protocol

Stage

Methods

Stage 1: Elicit and formulate the programme theory

• Documentary analysis of published and unpublished documents pertaining to the establishment, development and implementation of the National Programme for Diabetes and the three programme interventions.

• Semi-structured interviews with national level programme developers (n = 19).

Stage 2: Data Collection

Implementation of the National Programme for Diabetes

• Multiple case study design (n = 4 cases)

• Semi-structured interviews with theoretically sampled stakeholders in each area (n = approx. 15 per case).

Further data for each case will be gathered through a number of sub-studies conducted at a local and national level to build a rich case description and allow for embedded analysis of each programme component.

Retinopathy screening programme

• Audit of registration, consent and uptake among a convenience sample of two large primary care centres (n = 22 GPs, approx. 600 people with diabetes) and a smaller rural practice in one region (n = 2 GPs, approx. 100 people with diabetes)

• Semi-structured interviews with people with diabetes from those practices

National foot care model

• Semi-structured interviews with podiatrists including those recruited as part of the programme.

• Cross-sectional study of administrative activity data submitted by podiatrists as part of the National Programme for Diabetes.

National model of integrated care

• National survey of Diabetes Nurse Specialists (DNSs) including those recruited as part of the programme.

• Follow-up interviews and focus groups

• Cross-sectional analysis of administrative activity data submitted by DNSs recruited as part of the National Programme for Diabetes