As groundwork, we conceptualized NPI as analogous to pharmacological interventions. It is well established that two medications are considered pharmaceutical equivalents if they contain the same active ingredient and are identical in dose (strength or concentration), dosage form, and route of administration. We develop a comparable classification schema called the Theme, Intensity, and Provider/Platform (TIP) framework. TIP includes: 1) “theme”, which corresponds to the active ingredient and specifies the core element of the intervention; 2) “intensity”, which corresponds to the dose (strength or concentration) and indicates the strength of the core element; and 3) “provider” or “platform”, which corresponds to the dosage form and route of administration and indicates how the core element is delivered. 

The TIP feature is a unique character of NPI that articulates what the main intervention is and how it is intended to be delivered. After classifying each of the TIP elements (theme, intensity, and provider/platform), the next step is to combine these elements to generate a TIP feature. For example, if each of the TIP elements are classified into two groups there will be eight possible TIP features (2x2x2), i.e., T1/I1/P1, T1/I1/P2, T1/I2/P1, T1/I2/P2, T2/I1/P1, T2/I1/P2, T2/I2/P1, and T2/I2/P2.  HSI with the same TIP feature are expected to be comparable. Interventions with differing TIP features can then be assessed for comparability using either a qualitative comparative analysis or a quantitative approach, specifically network meta-analyses.  

Please cite as:  Dhippayom T, Saldanha IJ, Chaiyakunapruk N, Devine B. Characterizing health services interventions for evidence syntheses by using the theme, intensity, provider/platform (TIP) framework. J Evid Based Med. 2022 Dec;15(4):333-337.