Table 1.

Data analysis process throughout the study

Step	Description of the analytical step
One	We collected data on the following key elements of QCs: Outcomes Participant characteristics: who was doing what and why? Activities: what was being done and why? Implementation context: where and how were QCs implemented? Patterns of outcomes over time or intermediate outcomes.
Two	Outcomes: each intermediate outcome, or final outcome received a new code.
Three	To identify the components of CMO configurations, we linked what was done in the QCs with intermediate outcomes, or final outcomes, and noted any corresponding contextual features and mechanisms that were mentioned.
Four	We sought explanations for when and why they had these outcomes (if the source mentioned context or underlying reasoning or mechanism) and then built CMO configurations.
Five	We categorised and ordered the CMO configurations to create a chain of outcomes and explained how CMO configurations related to each other.
Six	We compared and contrasted CMO patterns identified in different sources.
Seven	We consolidated the programme theory foundation of QCs.

CMO, context–mechanism–outcome; QC, quality circle.