Table 1

Process evaluation: data collected, methods and timing of data collection (primary aim)

Data collectedMethods of data collectionTiming of data collection/extraction
Implementation, that is, the components and activities that were delivered as part of the Frailty+ intervention, their ‘dose’ and the adaptations that were made to the initial intervention description

  1. Number of information brochures distributed to primary care providers

  2. Number of meetings and training sessions with healthcare professionals, who attended and topics discussed

  3. Number and duration of home visits and topics discussed

  4. Number and timing of multidisciplinary meetings, who attended and topics discussed

  5. Number of consultations between nurses of the palliative home care services and the advising geriatrician, and topics discussed

  6. Number of contacts between palliative home care services, GPs, districts nurses and hospital staff and topics discussed

1 and 2. Registration by researcher in standardised document developed by the researchers
3–6. Data extraction from electronic patient records completed by specialised palliative care nurses using a structured data extraction form		1 and 2. Prior to patient recruitment
3–6. Postintervention
Mechanisms of change, that is, healthcare professionals’, patients’ and family carers’ responses to and interactions with the Frailty+ intervention, and whether there were any unexpected events

  1. Patients’ and family carers’ views of and experiences with the home visits and multidisciplinary meetings, including perceived barriers and facilitators

  2. GPs’ views of and experiences with the home visits, collaboration with other healthcare professionals (including the multidisciplinary meetings), including perceived barriers and facilitators

  3. Geriatricians’ and mobile geriatric teams’ views of and experiences with the training sessions, meetings, home visits, collaboration with other healthcare professionals (including the multidisciplinary meetings), including perceived barriers and facilitators

  4. Specialised palliative care teams’ views of and experiences with the training sessions, meetings, home visits, collaboration with other healthcare professionals (including multidisciplinary meetings and geriatric advice), the use of the semi-structured guidance documents, including perceived barriers and facilitators to introducing, implementing and embedding the new service model

  5. Number of activations of distress protocol including reason for activation

  1. Semi-structured qualitative interviews

  2. Structured phone interviews

  3. and

  4. Focus groups

  5. Registration by researcher in standardised document developed by the researchers

  1. and

  2. 8–11 weeks postbaseline

  3. and

  4. Postintervention

  5. Throughout the study period, as applicable

Contextual factors, that is, factors, external to the intervention, that influenced the implementation and outcomes of the Frailty+ intervention, according to healthcare professionals, patients and family
Specialised palliative care nurses’, mobile geriatric teams’, geriatricians’, GPs’, patients’ and family carers’ views of and experiences with external factors that influenced implementation and outcomesFocus groups with specialised palliative care nurses, and with geriatricians and mobile geriatric staff
Semi-structured qualitative interviews with patients and families
Structured phone interviews with GPs		Focus groups: postintervention
Interviews: 8–11 weeks postbaseline

  • GP, general practitioner