Table 3

Effective intervention components in selected studies (randomised (n=14), and higher quality non-randomised studies (n=19))

Intervention characteristics*TestsTreatmentsProcedures (n=1)
Imaging (n=13)Lab (n=4)Bronchiolitis care† (n=5)Opioids (n=5)Antibiotics (n=4)PIM (n=1)
What‡
 Education85 86 90 102 121 129 133 138 167135 142 144 146124 131 132 13672 13074 145 186128137
 Stakeholder engagement84–86 90 102 167146124 131 132
 Audit and feedback102 138 167135 146124 131 136 14072 127 130 15974 186137
 Clinical decision support84 86 90 121 125 129 133 139 141135 146126 127128
 Nudge142 144132145 160
 Clinical champion121 133146124137
 Training102 133124
Who§
 Doctors84–86 90 102 121 125 129 133 138 139 141 167135 142 144 146124 131 132 136 14072 126 127 130 15974 145 160 186128137
 PA/NP/PT90 10213572 130
 Nurses102135 144137
How¶
 Intensity
  Multifaceted84–86 90 102 121 129 133 138 167135 142 144 146124 131 132 13672 127 13074 145 186128137
  Single faceted125 139 141140126 159160
 Dose
  Once85 86 90 102 121 133 167135 146124 131 13672 127 15974 160 186
  Daily84–86 90 102 121 125 129 133 139 141 167135 142 144 146124 131126 127145128137
  Weekly131
  Monthly102 138135124 131 132130186
  Quarterly131 140
  Half-yearly146
  Yearly131
 Duration
  < 4 weeks136159
  1–11 months85 102 125 129 167142 14412472 126 130186137
  ≥1 year84 86 90 121 133 138 139 141135 146131 132 136 14012774 145 160128
How well**
 Planned84–86 90 102 121 125 129 133 138 139 141 167135 142 144 146124 131 132 136 14072 126 127 130 15974 145 160 186128137
 Delivered129144124 132159128

  • *Interventions were not tailored (personalised/titrated/adapted) or modified during the course of the study except in one study.144

  • †Variable combination of respiratory viral testing, chest radiograph, salbutamol, epinephrine, glucocorticoids and antibiotics.

  • ‡Facets of intervention.

  • §Clinicians targeted by intervention.

  • ¶Details of delivery of intervention: intensity—number of facets; dose—how often; duration—how long.

  • **Planning and delivery(ie, fidelity) of intervention (Was fidelity assessed? How? By whom? Strategies to maintain/improve fidelity?).

  • NP, nurse practitioner; PA, physician assistant; PIM, potentially inappropriate medications ; PT, physiotherapist.