Bridging Research and Practice

By R. Tabak, Elaine C. Khoong, David A. Chambers, Ross C. Brownson. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2012

1,194 citations recorded by the source corpus.

Context Theories and frameworks (hereafter called models) enhance dissemination and implementation (D&I) research by making the spread of evidence-based interventions more likely. This work organizes and synthesizes these models by: (1) developing an inventory of models used in D&I research; (2) synthesizing this information; and (3) providing guidance on how to select a model to inform study design and execution. Evidence acquisition This review began with commonly cited models and model developers and used snowball sampling to collect models developed in any year from journal articles, presentations, and books. All models were analyzed and categorized in 2011 based on three author-defined variables: construct flexibility, focus on dissemination and/or implementation activities (D/I), and the socio-ecological framework (SEF) level. Five-point scales were used to rate construct flexibility from broad to operational and D/I activities from dissemination-focused to implementation-focused. All SEF levels (system, community, organization, and individual) applicable to a model were also extracted. Models that addressed policy activities were noted. Evidence synthesis Sixty-one models were included in this review. Each of the five categories in the construct flexibility and D/I scales had/contained at least four models. Models were distributed across all levels of the SEF; the fewest models (n=8) addressed policy activities. To assist researchers in selecting and utilizing a model throughout the research process, the authors present and explain examples of how models have been used. Conclusions These findings may enable researchers to better identify and select models to inform their D&I work.

Subfields: General Health Professions, Management Science and Operations Research

View Paper: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/b1cd65c4eb7371d7c6a35e5d048348b2b9067f7f

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In General Health Professions

In Management Science and Operations Research

Citations in the corpus

An introduction to implementation science for the non-specialist (2015, methodology): “For example, the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR, [46]) classifies 39 implementation constructs across five domains considered to be influential moderators or mediators of implementation outcomes, providing a structure by which to systematically assess context within which i”
Towards a general theory of implementation (2013, background): “Robust theories form the foundation for rigorous research to inform implementation journeys [17].”
Making sense of implementation theories, models and frameworks (2015, background): “[28] have not distinguished between process models, determinant frameworks or classic theories because they all deal with factors believed or found to have an impact on implementation processes and outcomes.”
An Introduction to Effectiveness-Implementation Hybrid Designs (2019, methodology): “The use of established implementation frameworks (Nilsen, 2015; Tabak et al., 2012) can aid in designing effectiveness trials for dissemination and implementation.”
Implementation Mapping: Using Intervention Mapping to Develop Implementation Strategies (2019, background): “Implementation science literature demonstrates a growing body of work on dissemination and implementation models and frameworks in the last several years (8, 9).”
Implementation strategies: recommendations for specifying and reporting (2013, background): “A review of 61 conceptual models pertinent to dissemination and implementation research found that 98% of the included models addressed more than one of the five ‘socioecological levels’ that they specified: system-, community-, organization-, individual-, and policy-levels [41].”
The updated Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research based on user feedback (2022, background): “Though the CFIR provides relatively detailed definitions for each construct [9], it is essential for users to fully operationalize constructs by adapting and using language that is meaningful for the context and individuals involved in implementing and delivering the innovation.”
Selecting and Improving Quasi-Experimental Designs in Effectiveness and Implementation Research (2018, background): “Frameworks can be helpful to enhances interpretability of many kinds of studies, including QEDs and can help ensure that information on essential implementation strategies are included in the results (44).”
RE-AIM Planning and Evaluation Framework: Adapting to New Science and Practice With a 20-Year Review (2019, methodology): “The seminal RE-AIM paper (1) has been cited over 2,800 times, and the RE-AIM framework has been applied to study planning or evaluation in over 450 publications (7).”