Process evaluation of infertility management in primary care: has open access HSG been normalized?

Abstract

Aim To map the results of four empirical quantitative and qualitative studies to the Normalization Process Model (NPM) to explain why open access hysterosalpingography (HSG) for the initial management of infertile couples has or has not normalized in primary care. Background The NPM is an applied theoretical model to help understand the factors that lead to the routine embedding of a complex intervention in everyday practice. Open access HSG has recently become available for the initial assessment of infertility in primary care. Methods The results of two qualitative studies (a focus group study and an in-depth interview study with patients and professionals) and two quantitative studies (a pilot survey and a pragmatic cluster-randomized controlled trial) evaluating open access HSG are interpreted by mapping the results to the NPM. Findings Application of the model shows that open access HSG would confer an advantage to all agencies if they could be sure that the expertise was present and supported within primary care. Conclusions Open access HSG was adopted but not normalized into everyday practice. Despite demonstration of modest workability, it has been counteracted by limited integration. Further evaluation of integration within contexts is required.