Table 3.

Process Evaluation Elements

Process evaluation component	Assessment
Context	• Data collected on a site proforma detailing site demographics, ethnicity, size, services delivered etc.
	• Data on those delivering the intervention
	• Data from two site observations completed at different time points in the intervention delivery period using a structured observation guide.
	• Contextual issues explored in the staff focus groups and participant interviews
Reach	• Attendance at the group sessions
	• Comparison of characteristics of those attending the intervention with those not attending
	• Reach explored in the staff focus groups and participant interviews
Exposure	• Number of group sessions delivered
	• Data from group session summary forms which describe those attending and the content/timings of sessions
	• Data from site observations (two per site)
	• Attendance at group sessions
	• Exposure and attendance explored in the staff focus groups and participant interviews
	• Data gathered on use of pedometers, step targets and walking diary completion
Fidelity	• Data from site observations (two per site)
	• Data from group session summary forms which describes how the intervention was implemented at each session
	• Fidelity explored in the staff focus groups and participant interviews
Recruitment	• Comparison of demographics of sites recruited
	• Recruitment rates compared across sites in terms of how many recruited, who is recruited and also how quickly people are recruited
	• Comparison of potentially eligible women with those recruited using data from case report forms and screening forms
	• Recruitment issues explored in the staff focus groups and participant interviews
Retention	• Dropout by trial arm
	• Dropout by site
	• Comparison of demographics of those dropping out with those remaining
Contamination	• Participants asked what other services control group utilised in case report forms
	• Contamination explored in the staff focus groups and participant interviews
Theory testing	• Mediation analyses using questionnaire data
	• Theoretical mediators explored in the staff focus groups and participant interviews