Table 3.

Summary of data sources informing concept mapping and nominal group technique

Input	Data represented	Global	Examples of expected data in form of challenge statements
Systematic reviews	Peer-reviewed literature	Y	Lack of shared terminology (linguistic inconsistencies) and definitions (lack of conceptual clarity) Number of determinants make it unrealistic to isolate impact Majority of studies focus on intrapersonal mechanisms, and few studies examined multilevel relationships
Matrix mapping	Expert input from investigators’ recent and ongoing studies	N	Several investigators use ‘conduct educational meetings’ across numerous studies and upwards of 20 different mechanisms are being studied The majority of studies do not indicate a theory to guide their evaluation Very few investigators explore system-level mechanisms There is insufficient attention to several priority populations (eg, minoritised populations, low-income families)
Implementation Development Workshop	Expert input from investigators proposing new studies	Y	Very few proposals study implementation mechanisms because their budget is not equipped to power for these analyses Investigators do not choose strategies based on their putative mechanisms of action An equity lens is rarely integrated
Implementation Research Institute	Expert input from researchers	N	Available measures might drive conceptualisation of what is important It is difficult to decide how often we need to measure each putative mechanism to measure the change trajectory or sequence
SIRC breakout sessions	Novice to expert input including practitioners, policy makers, purveyors, students and researchers	Y	Unevenness in availability of measures across constructs Often context is invoked retrospectively and is insufficiently measured Longitudinal, iterative nature of mechanisms evaluations make it difficult to measure and analyse
SIRC abstracts	Novice to expert input including practitioners, policy makers, purveyors, students and researchers	Y	Despite ubiquitous nature of training and post-training consultation, few studies evaluate their mechanisms of action Within a complex social–ecological system, there are multiple mechanisms by which an intervention could have its effect on the distal implementation outcome Descriptions of implementation strategies are too general and do not include full and consistent descriptions of their active ingredients

‘Global’ refers to including global participants or data.

SIRC, Society for Implementation Research Collaboration.