Supervision training interventions in the health and human services: realist synthesis protocol

Abstract

IntroductionSupervision training aims to develop workplace supervisory competencies. Despite extensive supervision literature, including literature reviews, the processes through which supervision training interventions produce their effects, for whom and under what circumstances is not clearly delineated. The purpose of this study is to explain the effect of contextual factors on the underpinning mechanisms of supervision training outcomes.Methods and analysisWe propose to examine supervision training interventions across the health and human services workforce using realist methods. Pawson’s five stages for undertaking a realist synthesis will be followed: (1) clarifying the scope of the review; (2) determining the search strategy; (3) study selection; (4) extracting data and (5) synthesising the evidence and drawing conclusions. Extracted data will include study characteristics, characteristics of participant cohort, intervention type, contextual factors, underlying mechanisms and supervision training outcomes. Patterns in context–mechanism–outcome configurations will be identified. Initial programme theories will be developed based on a comprehensive search of the literature, which will include key terms relating to supervision and training. The search strategy will involve: (1) electronic database searching using Medline, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Social Services Abstracts, Educational Resources Information Center, PsycINFO and Australian Public Affairs Information Service and (2) hand and citation searching. We will also contact authors where necessary and discuss identified literature among the project team with extensive expertise in supervision training.Ethics and disseminationThe realist synthesis will propose an evidence-informed theory of supervision training interventions (ie, what interventions work for whom and why). The findings will be disseminated in peer-reviewed journals and presentations and through discussions with relevant organisations and stakeholders. The research will be used by educators to develop evidenced-based supervision training interventions. It will also help workplace supervisors to better understand what types of supervision training might work most optimally for them and their colleagues. Other researchers could use the synthesis findings to guide future supervision research.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42018094186

Supervision training in healthcare: a realist synthesis

“…The review protocol registered on PROSPERO (CRD42018094186) and published (Lee et al 2019 ) was underpinned by Pawson’s five stages of realist review: (1) clarifying scope; (2) searching for evidence; (3) study selection; (4) data extraction; and (5) data synthesis (Pawson et al 2005 ). Although presented in a linear fashion, stages were conducted iteratively with some overlap.…”

“…Given the breadth of our search, we did not include search terms relating to interventions, professions, contexts or levels of learner, as advised by our medical librarian. For a full list of search terms see the protocol (Lee et al 2019 ). Key terms were combined with proximity searching, Boolean operators, truncations and asterisks.…”

“…Led by CER, four authors (CER, SLL, EH and CP) examined the data in these tables to identify demi-regularities (i.e. recurrent CMOCs) (Lee et al 2019 ) across the 29 outputs with 139 original CMOCs identified across interventions with short (87 CMOCs) and extended durations (52 CMOCs). Inspired by other realist syntheses (Abrams et al 2018 ), we asked questions like: is this CMOC found elsewhere in the same or other documents?…”

“…The review protocol registered on PROSPERO (CRD42018094186) and published (Lee et al 2019) was underpinned by Pawson's five stages of realist review: (1) clarifying scope;…”

Distant supervision of trainee emergency physicians undertaking a remote placement: A preliminary evaluation

“…Clinical supervisors have not been required to demonstrate supervisory competencies . Proficient supervisory skills can be difficult to acquire and cannot be assumed; therefore, supervisor training is considered essential, though what constitutes effective training is not clearly defined …”