Implementation Science Mini-Course

This self-directed, online mini-course provides a brief introduction to the field of implementation science through short video lectures, readings, and case studies. These materials provide high-level insight into what implementation science is and briefly introduce a few frameworks commonly used in the field.

These frameworks and additional topics are covered in depth through the UCSF Implementation Science Training Program, which offers in-person and online training in implementation science, with an emphasis on applied instruction for researchers as well as practitioners. 

Instructors

• Adithya Cattamanchi, MD, MAS
• Margaret Handley, PhD, MPH
• Courtney Lyles, PhD

I. Foundational Work for Implementation Science: Building the Case for Evidence Translation

Objectives

• Define implementation science
• Decide and justify whether a health care intervention has sufficient evidence to be translated/disseminated into practice, policy, or public health
• Identify strategies and activities for engaging key stakeholders in the translation/dissemination of your evidence

Lecture Videos

• Introduction to Implementation Science: Defining implementation science, Adithya Cattamanchi, MD, MAS

View slides

• Introduction to Implementation Science: Making the Case for Translation, Adithya Cattamanchi, MD, MA

Video, 8:08    View Slides

Readings

• Institute of Medicine, Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New Health System for the 21^st Century. The Executive Summary and Chapter 1, "The Quality Gap", highlight the Institute of Medicine definitions of health care quality.
• Handley MA et al. Strategies for implementing implementation science: a methodological overview. This paper describes fundamental principles of implementation science and offers a series of “how to” steps for conducting implementation science research.
• Bauer MS et al. An introduction to implementation science for the non-specialist. An overview of the development of implementation science as a discipline and its key principles and methods.

II. Application of an Implementation Science Framework to Guide Intervention Design

Objectives

By the end of this session, learners will be able to:

• Define key steps involved in designing effective implementation strategies
• Apply a planning model/framework to facilitate the design of an individual-level implementation strategy

Lecture Videos

• Overview of Implementation Frameworks and Theories, Adithya Cattamanchi, MD, MAS

Video, 8:59    View Slides

• Brief Introduction to the COM-B Model, Margaret Handley, PhD, MPH 

Video, 8:15    View slides

Readings

• Michie S et al. The behaviour change wheel: A new method for characterizing and designing behaviour change interventions. This article describes the development and steps of the behavior change wheel framework for developing implementation strategies.
• Handley MA et al. Applying the COM-B model to creation of the STAR MAMA program. This article provides a step-by-step example of applying COM-B/Behavior Change Wheel Framework to the design of an implementation strategy for the Diabetes Prevention Program.
• Nilsen P. Making sense of theories, models, and frameworks. This paper provides an overview of various theoretical approaches used in implementation research, from classic theories to implementation-specific frameworks, to evaluation.

III. Case Studies: Applying concepts to your own work

Please see the case studies that summarize the following issues related to evidence-practice gaps and stakeholder engagement in real-world practice.

• Describe the evidence to be translated and its relation to a health problem.
  • What evidence (health-related behavior, test, procedure, treatment, intervention, program) will be translated?
  • Justify the evidence is ready to be translated (including in the local context).
  • What health problem will translation of the evidence improve? Justify selection of this health problem as a priority in the setting you plan to work.
• Identify stakeholder communities and conduct outreach to work with them.
  • List key communities/stakeholders involved in translating your evidence.
  • Consider vested interests of key communities/ stakeholders.

READ CASE STUDY 1: FUNCTIONAL STATUS

READ CASE STUDY 2: CARDIAC REHABILITATION

READ CASE STUDY 3: OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY FOR PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA

Derived from Box 1 in: Handley MA, Gorukanti A, Cattamanchi A. Strategies for implementing implementation science: a methodological overview. Emerg Med J. 2016 Sep;33(9):660-4.