Abstract
Realist evaluation is a theory-driven approach that has gained increasing popularity in recent years, particularly for evaluating complex healthcare programs. This chapter provides an overview of its application in health service evaluation. It begins with a description of the underlying principles that shape realist evaluation followed by a detailed discussion of the various stages within the evaluation cycle and its practical use in assessing health services. The chapter concludes by examining the strengths and limitations of this methodology, along with its broader contribution to health service evaluation.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Handbook of Health Services Evaluation |
| Editors | Axel Kaehne, Julie Feather |
| Place of Publication | Switzerland |
| Publisher | Springer Nature Switzerland AG |
| Pages | 101-117 |
| ISBN (Print) | 9783031878688 |
| Publication status | Published - 29 Jul 2025 |
Keywords
- realist evaluation
- health services
- implementation