Table 2.

Example research topics for optimizing audit and feedback

Factors related to context and/or recipient
Characteristics of the recipient	• Engagement in audit and/or in feedback design
	• Goal orientation of recipients
	• Degree of motivation to improve performance
	• Training of recipients to understand and act on feedback
	• Profession of recipient and/or multi-disciplinary feedback
Characteristics of the setting	• Location (e.g., hospital versus clinic, national setting)
	• Organizational resources
	• Size of the team responsible for outcomes of interest
Co-interventions	• Time and/or standardized support to reflect upon feedback
	• Impact of combining A&F with one of the following:
	• Incentives or penalties (financial, CME, licensing)
	• Tools and practise aids (clinical decision tool)
	• Education (academic detailing, group learning)
	• Practice redesign (coaches, facilitation, mentorship)
Factors related to intervention design
Nature of delivery of the information	• Mode of delivery of feedback (e.g., paper, electronic, face-to-face)
	• Length, duration
	• Perceived credibility of the source and/or competence of the presenter
	• Different sources (peer versus supervisor versus external group)
	• Frequency of feedback
	• Role of social pressure, dissemination/visibility of information to peer-group
Nature of the content	• Sign of the message (positive versus negative)
	• Graded feedback (starting positive)
	• Type of benchmarks and/or comparison information
	• Type action plans or correct solution information
	• Level of aggregation of feedback data (individual versus team)
	• Role for intermediate outcomes/process measures versus patient-level outcomes
Characteristics of the targeted behaviours	• Perceived importance of the target relative to other priorities
	• Observability of improvement (whether impact of using a new practice can be seen quickly)
	• The degree to which the recommended practice requires changes in habits and routines
	• Complexity of targeted behaviours (number of indicators reported or behavioural changes required and skill level necessary for desired behaviour change)