Table 1 List of possible items to be included when reporting a case study evaluation of a complex intervention

TITLE

1

Title

Is the term ‘case study’ used in the title and/or subtitle, index, key words, or abstract?

ABSTRACT

2

Abstract

In the abstract or summary, have the authors included brief details on: the policy, programme, intervention or initiative under evaluation; programme setting; purpose of the case study research; case study question(s) and/or objective(s); case study research strategy; data collection, documentation and analysis methods; key findings and conclusions?

INTRODUCTION

3

Terminology

Have the researchers described how they are using key terms related to case, context and complexity/complex intervention in their study, e.g. by including definitions, descriptions or examples? If no descriptions are provided, have the authors provided their reasons for not doing so?

4

Philosophical bases

5

Research questions

Have the authors set out clear research questions to be answered by their case study design?

6

Rationale for doing case study research

7

Context, complexity and relationship to the intervention

Have the authors: a) described how they have interpreted complexity, in relation to context, the intervention, and how they interact?; and b) explained how they have designed their study to investigate such complexity, including how complexity shaped the case?

8

Ethical approval and considerations

Have the authors stated whether the case study research required and has gained ethical approval from the relevant authorities, and provided details as appropriate? If ethical approval was deemed unnecessary, have the authors explained why?

9

Empirical methods

Have the authors described: a) how data were produced (when, by whom, from whom and how) and how they were analysed? b) how their methods relate to their research questions, design and approach? and c) how different data are integrated in the case analysis?

RESULTS

10

Findings

Have the authors presented their findings in ways that: a) convey sufficient richness to illuminate the case? b) provide justification for any interpretive inferences?

11

Use of theory

Where authors have used theoretical concepts or frameworks in their case study research, have they described and justified these?

DISCUSSION

12

Generalisability and transferability

a) Have the authors explained any implications of their findings beyond their immediate context (e.g. in terms of their generalisability, transferability or usefulness)? b) If they stated that their findings have implications beyond their case, have the authors included sufficient information about the key contextual conditions and historical path-dependencies so that people can make informed judgements on the relevance of the findings for other contexts and settings?

13

Researchers’ perspective and influence

Have the authors: a) offered critical reflections about how their position, status and perspectives may have shaped the research and the interpretation of findings? and b) included how the case study findings may have challenged their prior assumptions?

14

Strengths and limitations

Have the authors discussed both the strengths of the case study design and its limitations? Have they included (but need not be limited to) considerations of all the steps in the case study evaluation processes?

15

Conclusions and recommendations

Are the authors’ conclusions and recommendations supported by their findings? If relevant, have the authors considered the implications of their findings for current research, policy or practice?

16

Funding and conflict of interest

Have the authors stated the funding source (if any) for the case study research, the role played by the funder (if any) and any conflicts of interests of the authors?