Examples of realist reviews
Examples of realist reviews
A realist review is a type of literature review that focuses on understanding how and why complex interventions work (or do not work) in particular contexts. It aims to uncover the mechanisms behind observed outcomes by examining the interaction between the intervention, the context, and the effects. This approach helps identify which aspects of an intervention are effective, for whom, and under what circumstances.
Psychology
The realist literature review, titled “Workplace-Based Organizational Interventions Promoting Mental Health and Happiness among Healthcare Workers: A Realist Review,” synthesizes evidence on organizational-level interventions to promote mental health and well-being among healthcare workers. Mental illness, accounting for 32% of global disability years, significantly impacts workplaces, particularly healthcare workers who face high rates of burnout, stress, and depression due to excessive workloads, workplace violence, and bullying, negatively affecting patient care and worker wellbeing (Gray et al., 2019).
A search of three premier health-related databases identified 1290 articles discussing healthcare workers, workplace interventions, and mental health. After further examination, 46 articles met the criteria for organizational-level interventions and were combined with similar studies from a Cochrane review, totalling 60 articles. These studies, mainly from high-income countries, were analyzed using a realist framework, focusing on skills and knowledge development, leadership development, communication, team building, stress management, and workload and time management.
Common themes highlight the importance of employee engagement in developing and implementing interventions. The review emphasizes the need for more research in low- and middle-income countries and the long-term effects of workplace mental health promotion. This provides insights into effective organizational-level interventions for enhancing healthcare workers’ mental health and well-being.
