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Implementation Science
Published in: Implementation Science 1/2017

Open Access 01-12-2017 | Systematic review

Effective strategies for scaling up evidence-based practices in primary care: a systematic review

Authors: Ali Ben Charif, Hervé Tchala Vignon Zomahoun, Annie LeBlanc, Léa Langlois, Luke Wolfenden, Sze Lin Yoong, Christopher M. Williams, Roxanne Lépine, France Légaré

Published in: Implementation Science | Issue 1/2017

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Abstract

Background

While an extensive array of existing evidence-based practices (EBPs) have the potential to improve patient outcomes, little is known about how to implement EBPs on a larger scale. Therefore, we sought to identify effective strategies for scaling up EBPs in primary care.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review with the following inclusion criteria: (i) study design: randomized and non-randomized controlled trials, before-and-after (with/without control), and interrupted time series; (ii) participants: primary care-related units (e.g., clinical sites, patients); (iii) intervention: any strategy used to scale up an EBP; (iv) comparator: no restrictions; and (v) outcomes: no restrictions. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Web of Science, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library from database inception to August 2016 and consulted clinical trial registries and gray literature. Two reviewers independently selected eligible studies, then extracted and analyzed data following the Cochrane methodology. We extracted components of scaling-up strategies and classified them into five categories: infrastructure, policy/regulation, financial, human resources-related, and patient involvement. We extracted scaling-up process outcomes, such as coverage, and provider/patient outcomes. We validated data extraction with study authors.

Results

We included 14 studies. They were published since 2003 and primarily conducted in low-/middle-income countries (n = 11). Most were funded by governmental organizations (n = 8). The clinical area most represented was infectious diseases (HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria, n = 8), followed by newborn/child care (n = 4), depression (n = 1), and preventing seniors’ falls (n = 1). Study designs were mostly before-and-after (without control, n = 8). The most frequently targeted unit of scaling up was the clinical site (n = 11). The component of a scaling-up strategy most frequently mentioned was human resource-related (n = 12). All studies reported patient/provider outcomes. Three studies reported scaling-up coverage, but no study quantitatively reported achieving a coverage of 80% in combination with a favorable impact.

Conclusions

We found few studies assessing strategies for scaling up EBPs in primary care settings. It is uncertain whether any strategies were effective as most studies focused more on patient/provider outcomes and less on scaling-up process outcomes. Minimal consensus on the metrics of scaling up are needed for assessing the scaling up of EBPs in primary care.

Trial registration

This review is registered as PROSPERO CRD42016041461.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
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Metadata
Title
Effective strategies for scaling up evidence-based practices in primary care: a systematic review
Authors
Ali Ben Charif
Hervé Tchala Vignon Zomahoun
Annie LeBlanc
Léa Langlois
Luke Wolfenden
Sze Lin Yoong
Christopher M. Williams
Roxanne Lépine
France Légaré
Publication date
01-12-2017
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Implementation Science / Issue 1/2017
Electronic ISSN: 1748-5908
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13012-017-0672-y

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