Table 2 Overview of strategy characteristics specified using Proctor et al.’s recommendations [3] and data sources and analysis description

Name and definition

Name of strategy, its definition^a, and cluster based on the ERIC taxonomy [5, 40] and the developed coding manual.

Data from all sources^b triangulated to name and cluster strategies according to the ERIC. Coding was aided by a developed coding manual adapted to the innovation and context. Identified strategies that did not fit the ERIC taxonomy were individually named and defined. All coding underwent consensus discussions within the research group. Discrete strategies that could be linked to activity logs were summed to report frequencies.

Actor

Person(s) who delivers the strategy

Data primarily identified in activity logs and, in some cases, triangulated with other sources. Actor was described in the text.

Action

Operationalisation of the strategy

Data triangulated from all sources and described in the text.

Action target

The person(s) or factors targeted by the strategy

Data answering the “who” were primarily found in activity logs. The “what,” i.e., the conceptual target, was sometimes identified in interviews and other documents. “Who” and “what” were described in the text. Moreover, two levels of action targets were identified. Reported activities directly targeting HCPs engaged in adopting and integrating PCC in their practice versus strategies targeting change agents and stakeholders supporting the implementation initiative. These two levels were reported concerning frequencies of strategies and dose.

Temporality

Time point/time span for enacting the strategy

Strategies in activity logs were first arranged in chronological order according to date starting in May 2016 and then clustered on a half-year basis from January to June and July to December. Strategies enacted in a pre-implementation phase from October 2015 until May 2016 by the DD were described in the text.

Dose

The aggregated time for each unit spent on clusters of strategies

Quantitative data were primarily identified in activity logs and sometimes used in conjunction with documents from timetables and specifications from actors involved in the strategy. Time was calculated as minutes/hours spent on an implementation strategy and the number of participants involved.

Outcomes affected

Expected outcome of enacted strategies

Data triangulated from all sources and described in the text.

Justification

Reason for choosing specific strategies

Data triangulated from all sources to identify whether the strategy was justified by theory, research, experience, or intuition by change agents. Data were described in the text without the authors inferring any justification.