eprintid: 1463824
rev_number: 31
eprint_status: archive
userid: 608
dir: disk0/01/46/38/24
datestamp: 2015-03-16 22:32:10
lastmod: 2021-09-20 00:04:47
status_changed: 2015-11-11 09:35:07
type: article
metadata_visibility: show
item_issues_count: 0
creators_name: Davidoff, F
creators_name: Dixon-Woods, M
creators_name: Leviton, L
creators_name: Michie, S
title: Demystifying theory and its use in improvement.
ispublished: pub
divisions: UCL
divisions: B02
divisions: C07
divisions: D05
divisions: F66
keywords: Complexity, Evaluation methodology, Implementation science, Quality improvement methodologies, Social sciences
note: This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work noncommercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/bync/4.0/
abstract: The role and value of theory in improvement work in healthcare has been seriously underrecognised. We join others in proposing that more informed use of theory can strengthen improvement programmes and facilitate the evaluation of their effectiveness. Many professionals, including improvement practitioners, are unfortunately mystified-and alienated-by theory, which discourages them from using it in their work. In an effort to demystify theory we make the point in this paper that, far from being discretionary or superfluous, theory ('reason-giving'), both informal and formal, is intimately woven into virtually all human endeavour. We explore the special characteristics of grand, mid-range and programme theory; consider the consequences of misusing theory or failing to use it; review the process of developing and applying programme theory; examine some emerging criteria of 'good' theory; and emphasise the value, as well as the challenge, of combining informal experience-based theory with formal, publicly developed theory. We conclude that although informal theory is always at work in improvement, practitioners are often not aware of it or do not make it explicit. The germane issue for improvement practitioners, therefore, is not whether they use theory but whether they make explicit the particular theory or theories, informal and formal, they actually use.
date: 2015-03
official_url: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjqs-2014-003627
oa_status: green
full_text_type: pub
language: eng
primo: open
primo_central: open_green
article_type_text: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
verified: verified_manual
elements_source: PubMed
elements_id: 1010407
doi: 10.1136/bmjqs-2014-003627
pii: bmjqs-2014-003627
lyricists_name: Michie, Susan
lyricists_id: SFMIC21
full_text_status: public
publication: BMJ Qual Saf
volume: 24
number: 3
pagerange: 228 - 238
event_location: England
citation:        Davidoff, F;    Dixon-Woods, M;    Leviton, L;    Michie, S;      (2015)    Demystifying theory and its use in improvement.                   BMJ Qual Saf , 24  (3)   228 - 238.    10.1136/bmjqs-2014-003627 <https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjqs-2014-003627>.       Green open access   
 
document_url: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1463824/1/Michie_Demystifying_theory_and_its_use_in_improvement..pdf