Understanding how and why de-implementation works in health and care: research protocol for a realist synthesis of evidence.

Background: Strategies to improve the effectiveness and quality of health and care have predominantly emphasised the implementation of new research and evidence into service organisation and delivery. A parallel, but less understood issue is how clinicians and service leaders stop existing practices and interventions that are no longer evidence based, where new evidence supersedes old evidence, or interventions are replaced with those that are more cost effective. The aim of this evidence synthesis is to produce meaningful programme theory and practical guidance for policy makers, managers and clinicians to understand how and why de-implementation processes and procedures can work.

An evaluation of an infection prevention link nurse programme in community hospitals and development of an implementation model.

Background: Little evidence exists to show the exact impact of the link nurse role in promoting best practice in infection prevention. This paper is a report of the implementation and evaluation of a link nurse programme for community hospitals across one NHS organisation.

Aim/objectives: The main aim of the study was to implement and evaluate an infection prevention link programme.