Table 5.

Summary of outcomes utilised to characterise success

Outcome	Studies examining outcome
Service outcomes
Perceived improvement in quality, safety of care or higher standards of practice	15, 39, 41, 47, 49, 54, 70, 71, 77
Change in organisational culture	34, 36, 37, 44
Improvement in access to care and clinic efficiency (perceived)	41 53, 56, 76
Improved ‘actioning’ of issues	33, 34
Increased certification of practitioners	74
Cost and time savings	71
Reduction in travel	71
Improved referral pathways, connections or collaboration	66
Staff (including programme) outcomes
Increases in self-reported knowledge, confidence and competence in practice, skills and/or clinical decision-making	15, 33, 41, 44, 46, 48, 49, 52, 54, 59, 60, 61, 71, 72, 75, 76
Content or structure of material or programme perceived as appropriate and relevant by participants	44-46, 49, 53, 54
Retention of staff	39, 40, 49, 66, 75
Greater understanding of role of mentoring or supervision	37, 36, 44
Capacity to attend or participate in programme	49, 52
Improved collaboration with other health workers	41
Knowledge gains	14, 34
Improved attitude towards supervision or mentoring	36, 37
Job satisfaction	15, 71
Improved staff well-being	43
Improved knowledge of roles and knowledge sharing	54
Improved reflective practice	66
Programme outcomes
Attendance and completion rates	14, 33, 34, 36, 37, 43, 45, 54, 57, 59, 72, 76
Sustainability of programme	34, 36, 37, 43, 47, 48, 54, 56
Knowledge translation to other rural practitioners and organisations	48, 54, 76
Engagement with the programme	33, 54, 59
Satisfaction with the programme (including perceived positive use of staff time)	33, 52, 66
Attainment of learning goals	49, 52
Patient outcomes
Staff perceived improvements in screening procedures	41
Reduced admission rates from a rural to a regional centre and reduced transfer of clients for care to regional centres	53, 76
Client satisfaction with services	61
Improved quality and completeness of health information and services received by clients	56