Table 1.

Categories of information for analysis

Category	Descriptor	Examples/Application
Context	Factors which can influence policy development including past provision of SMS for chronic disease	Healthcare structures and governance, health service reform agenda, burden of chronic disease, demographic and prevalence trends of chronic disease, e-health trends, information on previous delivery of SMS
Content	Scope of the framework, defining features of SMS espoused, goal statements, policy statements of action	Chronic diseases targeted and scope of population for intervention; components of SMS definition; stated goal including intended effect and outcomes; SMS priorities or courses of action
Actors	Stakeholders involved in policy making	Government representatives, clinicians, health service managers, people with chronic disease, voluntary sector representatives and community and advocacy groups.
Processes	How information and actors interests are incorporated in policy formation; proposed process of implementation and evaluation	Evidence used and processes of stakeholder involvement such as consultation, involvement in workshops and surveys, member of working group; implementation plans, associated timelines, facilitation processes; evaluation strategies and feedback process.