SPICE framework is used when evaluating the quality or effectiveness of services or programs, particularly where the viewpoint of those receiving the service is central to the evaluation.
Example question: How effective is a community-based rehabilitation program, from the patient's perspective, in improving functional outcomes compared to standard care?
Criteria | Definitions | Inclusion example | Exclusion example |
Setting | Environment, location, or context in which the study is conducted or the intervention is delivered | e.g. A community-based outpatient rehabilitation clinic | e.g. An inpatient hospital ward |
Perspective | Viewpoint, stakeholder group, or subject whose experience or perception is being examined | e.g. Patients attending outpatient rehabilitation | e.g. Clinicians or therapists delivering the service |
Intervention | Treatments, assessments, policies or strategies being evaluated in the study | e.g. A structured 8-week physical rehabilitation program | e.g. Unsupervised home exercise with no clinical oversight |
Comparison | Alternative(s) or reference point against which the intervention is being evaluated | e.g. Standard care with no structured rehabilitation program | e.g. Studies comparing two active rehabilitation formats |
Evaluation | Outcome or measure used to assess the impact or effectiveness of the intervention | e.g. Patient-reported functional improvement at 3-month follow-up | e.g. Number of rehabilitation sessions attended |
Other | Any additional information that affects a study's eligibility for your review or is helpful to consider during screening | e.g. Studies with a minimum 3-month follow-up period | e.g. Studies conducted in high-resource specialist centers only |