Analysing process in healthcare: the methodological and theoretical challenges

There has been a growing demand for analysis of healthcare process as it has become increasingly recognised that patients, professionals and managers tend to value aspects of process as much as healthcare outcomes. The articles in this special section of Policy & Politics aim to consider the methodological and theoretical challenges involved in exploring the questions addressed in process analysis and process evaluation. This introductory article provides an overview of the general questions that need to be explored and how the articles inform these questions. These general questions are organised around the following five analytical themes: theory building and process analysis; interface with policy and practice; epistemiological and methodological rigour and transparency; the analysis of context; and the need for greater external validity and cumulation.