Table 3.

Characteristics of the studies and EBIs presented in the articles included in the review

Study and EBI characteristics		Number of studies (Total n = 53)	% of total number of studies
Study design
	Case study	19	35.8
	Cross-sectional	18	34.0
	Longitudinal	10	18.9
	Randomized controlled trial	4	7.5
	Other1	2	3.8
Data collection methods
	Single methods	33	62.3
	Interview	24	45.3
	Survey	5	9.4
	Document review	2	3.8
	Observation	2	3.8
	Multiple methods	20	37.7
	Interview and survey	8	15.1
	Interview and document review	8	15.1
	Other2	4	7.5
Study setting
	Hospital care	23	43.4
	Administrative system	14	26.4
	Primary care	6	11.3
	Community based organization	6	11.3
	Home care	4	7.5
Type of EBI
	Strategies/practices	32	60.4
	Programs/model	21	39.6
Aim of EBI3
	Improving health outcomes:
	-In an organization	25	47.2
	-In a population	14	26.4
	Health system development	13	24.5
	Reorganization of care services	3	5.7

¹Cross case comparison [17] and action research [18]

²Different combinations of methods (interview, document review, observation, survey, register)

³More than 100 % because some EBIs had several aims and exist in several categories