A realist evaluation of the role of communities of practice in changing healthcare practice
2011

Evaluating the Role of Communities of Practice in Healthcare

publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Ranmuthugala Geetha, Cunningham Frances C, Plumb Jennifer J, Long Janet, Georgiou Andrew, Westbrook Johanna I, Braithwaite Jeffrey

Primary Institution: University of New South Wales

Hypothesis

What outcomes do communities of practice achieve in healthcare, and how do these outcomes translate into improved practice?

Conclusion

The study aims to identify key mechanisms and contexts that optimize the effectiveness of communities of practice in improving healthcare practice.

Supporting Evidence

  • Communities of practice are increasingly used in healthcare to improve practice and patient care.
  • There is a lack of empirical evidence demonstrating the impact of communities of practice on healthcare delivery.
  • The study will explore how context influences the effectiveness of communities of practice.

Takeaway

This study looks at how groups of people sharing knowledge can help improve healthcare practices. It wants to find out what works best and why.

Methodology

The study will use a realist evaluation approach, involving systematic reviews, interviews, and surveys to develop and test theories about communities of practice.

Limitations

The study may face challenges in identifying and measuring outcomes due to the complexity of social interactions and the need for participant engagement.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1748-5908-6-49

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