Realist review protocol on user involvement in complex interventions in health and social care research among...

User involvement is important for improving accessibility, quality and equity in health and social care research. However, the specific mechanisms by which it contributes to, or detracts from intervention outcomes are unclear, particularly for populations experiencing exclusion and health and social inequities in high-income countries. This realist review aims to understand and describe key mechanisms of user involvement in complex interventions in health and social care research among populations experiencing exclusion in high-income countries. Specifically, we will explore how, why, for whom and under what circumstances user involvement contributes to complex interventions in health and social care research among populations experiencing exclusion.

We will conduct a six-step realist review: (1) clarifying the scope, (2) searching for evidence, (3) selecting and appraising sources, (4) extracting and organising data, (5) synthesising data and (6) refining the synthesis. We will systematically review and synthesise relevant sources from academic databases and grey literature. Workshops will be held with experts who have lived experience of exclusion and/or professionals working in inclusion health to gather feedback and refine the findings. A group of external academic experts in the field will also be consulted. Following Pawson and Tilley's iterative approach, data will be extracted, analysed and synthesised into explanatory theoretical findings and reported in accordance with the Realist And Meta-narrative Evidence Syntheses Evolving Standards.

Formal ethical approval is not required for this study as it is a review of published literature. Our overall dissemination strategy will be developed in collaboration with the experts who have lived experience of exclusion, as well as three professionals working in inclusion health. Findings will be shared with these expert contributors and disseminated through various channels, including a peer-reviewed publication, lay summary report and conference presentations.

CRD420251046835.