Active change interventions to de-implement low-value healthcare practices: a scoping review protocol

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Health Services Research
• Medical Practice Improvement

Background:

• Overuse of medical procedures, tests, and medications incurs significant financial costs and risks patient harm.
• Initiatives to reduce low-value healthcare practices are ongoing.
• Passive interventions like guidelines are insufficient; active strategies are necessary for sustained practice change.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and characterize studies evaluating active change interventions aimed at reducing or eliminating low-value healthcare practices.
• To inform future research and practice in healthcare de-implementation.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive scoping review of MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Scopus databases.
• Utilized 40 key search terms and a rigorous screening process involving multiple researchers.
• Included empirical studies focusing on active interventions for reducing low-value practices.

Main Results:

• The review will categorize interventions based on characteristics such as being single-faceted or multifaceted.
• Analysis will also consider the level of implementation, whether individual or organizational.
• Insights into the impact of these characteristics on de-implementation will be provided.

Conclusions:

• Active change interventions are crucial for reducing low-value healthcare practices.
• Understanding intervention characteristics can guide future de-implementation research.
• Findings will be disseminated through conferences and publications.