Table 7 The extent to which the causal assumptions of the intervention were met
From: Chronic Headache Education and Self-Management Study (CHESS): a process evaluation
Causal assumption | Synthesis of findings | |
|---|---|---|
1 | Increasing understanding and acknowledging unhelpful beliefs and behaviours about their headaches | Only a small proportion of participants increased their understanding and acknowledged their unhelpful beliefs. |
2 | Learning and applying techniques for managing chronic headaches | Some evidence is found within the data that some participants were making changes in line with this assumption. There was an equal amount of data to the contrary. |
3 | Encouraging re-activation and re-engagement to improve quality of life | There was very little evidence in the data to suggest that this happened in the group sessions or after the end of the study |
4 | Promoting individual independence | There was little evidence in the data to suggest that this happened in the group sessions. There were a few examples after 12 months. |
5 | Using facilitators to guide participants to discover and generate new ideas, beliefs and behaviours via a group learning process. | Some evidence is found within the data that some participants were making changes in line with this assumption. There was an equal amount of data to the contrary. |
6 | Having one to one engagement to discuss medication management and offering ongoing support thereafter | Some evidence is found within the data that some participants were making changes in line with this assumption. There was an equal amount of data to the contrary. |