Table 1 Studies reporting guidance development reviewed

Waterman H, Tillen D, Dickson R, De Koning K. Action research: a systematic review and guidance for assessment. Health Technol Assess 2001;5 (23)

UK. National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Health Technology Assessment (HTA) programme

Assessing action research proposals and projects

Tool for ´critical reflection´ based on 20 guidance questions and points for discussion. Draft guidance requiring ´field-testing´.

• Synthesis of findings in relation to study objectives

• Literary sources, action researchers´ experiences, findings of review

Wong G, Greenhalgh T, Westhrop G, Pawson R. Development of methodological guidance, publication standards and training materials for realist and meta-narrative reviews: The RAMESES (Realist And Meta-narrative Evidence Syntheses: Evolving Standards) project. Health Serv Deliv Res 2014;2 (30)

UK. NIHR Health Services Research and Delivery Programme

Guidance on producing realist and meta-narrative reviews

Publication standards, quality standards, and teaching and learning resources for realist and meta-narrative reviews.

• Literature search

• Delphi panels

• Email discussion list

• Methodological support to review teams

• Workshops

Bennett MI, Mulvey MR, Campling N, Latter S, Richardson A, Bekker H, et al. Self-management toolkit and delivery strategy for end-of-life pain: the mixed-methods feasibility study. Health Technol Assess 2017;21 (76)

UK. NIHR HTA

Self-management of end-of-life pain

Self-management intervention including patient/carer support toolkit and nurse-led educational programme.

• Initial scoping work, inc. 6 patient/carer interviews

• Evidence synthesis, inc. key learning from studies conducted by the team

• Interviews / focus groups to refine and detail intervention

Carpenter D, Nieva V, Albaghal T, et al. Development of a Planning Tool to Guide Research Dissemination. In: Henriksen K, Battles JB, Marks ES, et al., editors. Advances in Patient Safety: From Research to Implementation (Volume 4: Programs, Tools, and Products). Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2005 Feb. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK20603/

US. Agency for Healthcare Research Quality (AHRQ)

Research dissemination

Research dissemination planning tool

• Literature review

• Review of current tools

• Expert review of draft tool

• Testing tool with end users (patient safety researchers)

Goering P, Ross S, Jacobson N. Developing a guide to support the knowledge translation component of the grant application process, Evidence & Policy, 2010;6.1: 91–102.

Canadian Health Research Foundation (CHSRF), the Canadian Institutes for Health Research (CIHR), National Institute for Health Research Service Delivery and Organization (SDO) Research and Development Programme, and the Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development

Assessing research grant applications´ knowledge translation plans

Guide for assessing health research knowledge translation plans

• Developed draft guide based on existing literature and team’s expertise

• Cognitive interviews to assess applicant and reviewer responses to the guide

• Revising draft based on interviews (consensus method among team used to decide on revisions)

Janet E Anderson, Glenn Robert, Francisco Nunes, Roland Bal, Susan Burnett, Anette Karltun, Johan Sanne, Karina Aase, Siri Wiig, Naomi J Fulop, QUASER team, Translating research on quality improvement in five European countries into a reflective guide for hospital leaders: the ‘QUASER Hospital Guide’, International Journal for Quality in Health Care, mzz055, https://doi.org/10.1093/intqhc/mzz055

European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7)

Hospital leaders´ quality improvement work and strategies

Reflective guide for developing quality improvement strategy aimed at hospital leaders

• Three expert group workshops on need/approach, emerging design, and feedback on prototype

• Report summarising workshop findings and implications for design