Exploring the Effectiveness of Practice Development Interventions on Patient and Staff Outcomes: A Systematic Review.
TL;DR
Across diverse study designs, the majority of studies indicate that PD contributes positively to staff working environments and the contexts in which patient care is delivered, however, current findings do not demonstrate consistent improvements in clinical outcomes or quality of life.
Abstract
Aim
To explore Practice Development interventions and associated contextual factors to understand their impact on patient and staff outcomes and experiences in healthcare settings.
Design
Systematic review.
Methods
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis informed design, conduct and management. A systematic approach was taken, utilising multiple reviewers and consensus methods. Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool informed quality appraisal. Qualitative findings were analysed using Reflexive Thematic Analysis. Quantitative results are presented as a narrative summary. DATA SOURCES CINAHL; MEDLINE; PubMed; Scopus; ScienceDirect; Nursing and Allied Health; Cochrane Library; Internurse.com; The Kings Fund; GOV.UK and Trip Database were searched between 1st January 1980 to 5th January 2026.
Results
Twenty-nine studies were included. Eighteen studies met all quality assessment criteria. Limited quantitative data was available, and inconsistent outcome measures constrained quantitative analysis. Qualitative analysis generated three themes: (1) Shaping Practice: the interplay of organisational context, culture, and structure, (2) Enablers and constraints in Practice Development, (3) Collective empowerment.
Conclusion
Across diverse study designs, the majority of studies indicate that PD contributes positively to staff working environments and the contexts in which patient care is delivered. However, current findings do not demonstrate consistent improvements in clinical outcomes or quality of life. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE Practice Development may contribute to improvements in care environments for patients and staff, respectively. This review highlights knowledge gaps in the generalisability and transferability of Practice Development that would benefit from further exploration. IMPACT Practice Development may enhance healthcare environments, but further research is needed to determine if these benefits impact upon clinical outcomes. REPORTING
Method
Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses. NO PATIENT OR PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT No patient or public contribution. TRIAL REGISTRATION PROSPERO registration number: CRD42024557949.