How to get Research into Practice (Implementation Science)

Introductory

In this unit, we’ll discuss translating and disseminating research findings into practice. This is something called “Implementation Science.” It’s a way of studying how to make sure good ideas from research actually get used in the real world. This can be in places like hospitals, schools, policymaking or community groups.

Implementation science looks at all the different ways and plans to make sure these good ideas become a regular part of how things work. The main aim is to make sure that the knowledge we have from research gets turned into practical and long-lasting solutions that can be used by many people. It’s about finding out why sometimes we don’t use what we know, and then figuring out how to fix those problems. This helps us bridge the gap between what we know we should do and what we actually do in practice.

So, please watch the lectures below to learn more about this interesting field.

We have included some useful resources below to help you with your learning, some resources are useful if you are new to implementation science, others have been labelled intermediate or advanced for students who might want to learn even more about implementation science.

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What is Implementation Science, an introduction

In this lecture Dr Kia Chong Chua from King's College London and the South London Maudesley trust introduces implementation science to the Mental Health Implementation Network, at National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) in South London.

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The Research to Practice Gap

Implementation science is a multidisciplinary field of study that focuses on the methods, strategies, and approaches used to promote the systematic adoption and integration of evidence-based practices, interventions, programs, and policies into real-world settings, such as healthcare systems, education systems, and community organizations. The primary goal of implementation science is to bridge the gap between research and practice by improving the translation of scientific knowledge into effective, sustainable, and scalable interventions.

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Key Characteristics of Implementation Science

In this lesson, we'll discuss Implementation Science basics, introduce more terms you'll come across, discuss where it's used in different subjects, and explore how it's helpful.

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The Case for Implementation Science

In this session Professors Jane Sandall, Nicole and Dr Brian Mittman discuss some examples in Implementation Science.

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Course Summary

Key Terms

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Recommended Reading

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Introductory

Research paper: An introduction to implementation science for the non-specialist
The authors introduce implementation science principles to non-specialist investigators, administrators, and policymakers seeking to become familiar with this emerging field. This introduction is based on published literature and the authors’ experience as researchers in the field, as well as extensive service as implementation science grant reviewers. Bauer, M. S., Damschroder, L., Hagedorn, H., Smith, J., & Kilbourne, A. M. (2015). An introduction to implementation science for the non-specialist. BMC psychology, 3(1), 32. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-015-0089-9

Introductory

Practical Guide: Implementation Research in Health: A Practical Guide
Please read this practical guide developed by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Peters D.H., Tran N.T. & Adam T. (2014) Implementation Research in Health: A Practical Guide. WHO, Geneva.

Intermediate

Reporting guidelines relevant to implementation research
New resource for implementation research teams to improve study reporting | ARC South London (nihr.ac.uk)

Resources from NIHR ARC Colleagues

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Intermediate

Implementation Principles and Perspectives
Our colleagues at NIHR ARC East Midlands have developed this programme of four modules, which are designed to assist you to build capacity and prepare for implementation in your particular settings. Because implementation is a complex process, it is beyond the scope of this programme to include everything, however, it does cover all of the main themes. Completing each module will help you to progress along your journey towards implementation readiness. However, there is no one size fits all that will guarantee the successful implementation of an innovation. Instead, the modules are intended to help you reflect on what needs to happen during the different stages of your implementation readiness journey. The goal is to support you to consider your options and to help you to make informed choices.

Introductory

Bitesize guides to Implementation
The NIHR ARC Wessex Implementation Team have developed a process to assess the implementation factors of ARC projects outputs. Their Implementation Checklist assesses how far research teams have considered implementation and enables us to determine the level of input we need to provide to support the implementation process. ​

Intermediate

Essential Implementation Podcast
A podcast from ARC Yorkshire & Humber which speaks to implementation scientists, researchers, clinicians, healthcare staff, project managers, implementation practitioners and many more about their experiences and views in regards to implementation

Intermediate

Implementation Resources Storeroom
Resources from NIHR ARC East of England which guidance and tips on: Setting the right tone, Creating engagement in meetings, Facilitation styles and guides, and Further reading on Implementation. You will also find a seminar series in Implementation Science.

Tools for Implementation Science

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All Levels

KIS glossary of terms used in improvement and implementation
A collection of terms and definitions from the fields of quality improvement, improvement science and implementation science. It also draws on relevant terminology from health economics, patient and public involvement, evaluation and research.
Implementation Outcomes Repository
Free online resource launches to help researchers and practitioners measure the implementation outcomes of healthcare interventions | ARC South London (nihr.ac.uk)

Advanced

Implementation Science Research Development Tool
The Implementation Science Research Development (ImpRes) tool aims to help you successfully apply implementation science concepts, principles and methods to implementation research by providing a step-by-step approach to designing high quality and rigorous implementation projects. This is a good place to help you start developing your implementation science research project.
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