We are advancing the theory, methods, and measures that guide implementation science and practice

Interventions have long been the focus of research, but implementation science seeks to uncover the strategies and methods that lead to successful integration of effective interventions to guide implementation practice. To understand and optimize implementation, we need theoretical grounding, pragmatic methods, as well as reliable, valid, and actionable measures. 

ACT Center researchers are advancing the field of implementation science and optimizing implementation practice by:

• Designing and testing implementation process models, theories of change, and evaluation frameworks
• Partnering with health systems to evaluate implementation efforts as they happen
• Studying the effectiveness of implementation strategies — and developing reliable and valid measures to do so
• Developing methods for assessing context, including barriers and facilitators to change
• Creating and testing strategies to achieve equity in implementation practice
• Helping to ensure implementation methods and measures are efficient and relevant to daily clinical practice
   

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Featured publications

Lewis, C. C., Mettert, K. D., Stanick, C. F., Halko, H., Nolen, E. A., Powell, B., Weiner, B. J. The Psychometric And Pragmatic Evidence Rating Scale (PAPERS) for measure development and evaluation. Implementation Res and Pract. https://doi.org/10.1177/26334895211037391. Full text

Lewis CC, Powell BJ, Brewer SK, et al. Advancing mechanisms of implementation to accelerate sustainable evidence-based practice integration: protocol for generating a research agenda. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e053474. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-053474. Full text

Lewis CC, Hannon PA, Klasnja P, Baldwin LM, Hawkes R, Blackmer J, Johnson A. Optimizing Implementation in Cancer Control (OPTICC): protocol for an implementation science center. Implement Sci Commun. 2021;2(1):44. doi: 10.1186/s43058-021-00117-w. PubMed

Dorsey CN, Mettert K, Puspitasari AJ, Damschroder LJ, Lewis CC. A systematic review of measures of implementation players and processes: summarizing the dearth of psychometric evidence. Implement Res Pract. 2021. https://doi.org/10.1177/26334895211002474. Full text

Tuzzio L, O'Meara ES, Holden E, Parchman ML, Ralston JD, Powell JA, Baldwin LM. Barriers to implementing cardiovascular risk calculation in primary care: alignment with the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Am J Prev Med. 2021 Feb;60(2):250-257. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2020.07.027. Epub 2020 Dec 3. PubMed

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