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Developing initial programme theory for realist economic evaluation

A review of findings from three pilot studies

Bibliographic Data

ID21692087
AuthorsSam Redgate (0000-0001-5875-257X, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, corresponding author), Andrew Fletcher (0000-0003-4111-2968, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK), Linda Fenocchi (0000-0003-2536-8234, Glasgow Caledonian University), Rob Anderson (0000-0002-3523-8559, Exeter University, UK), R Baker (0000-0002-3451-2018, Glasgow Caledonian University), Angela Bate (0000-0001-5277-4188, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK), Cam Donaldson (0000-0003-4670-5340, Glasgow Caledonian University), Meghan Bruce Kumar (0000-0002-4713-8328, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK), Aikaterini Papadopoulou (0000-0003-2707-3632, Glasgow Caledonian University), Gill Westhorp (0000-0001-8451-2860, Charles Darwin University, NT, Australia), Geoff Wong (0000-0002-5384-4157, University of Oxford), Dalkin (0000-0002-3266-5926, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK)
Year2026
Publication date2026-06-29
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEvaluation (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1356-3890 • E-ISSN: 1461-7153
PublisherSAGE Publications (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/13563890261456285
OpenAlexW7166504417
LanguageEN
References cited21

It is increasingly recognised that ‘big problems’ in health and social care require well-designed solutions and robust evaluation, including attention to costs as well as outcomes. This is especially important in the pervasive environment of resource scarcity. Decisions need to be made that consider not only whether and how an intervention works but also affordability and efficiency in different circumstances and populations. As researchers tackle these complex issues, interest in bringing together realist and economic evaluation is growing. Responding to this, we discuss how using programme theory within a novel realist economic evaluation approach can be used in articulating how interventions may (or may not) bring about cost-effective change. We identify what initial programme theory in realist economic evaluation might look like in practice, drawing on data from three pilot realist economic evaluation studies

Capability approach · Economic evaluation · Health care · Psychological intervention · Theory of change · Advanced Causal Inference Techniques · Evaluation and Performance Assessment · Health Systems, Economic Evaluations, Quality of Life

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Highly citedNo

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