Table 4 Knowledge about D&I research

Knowledge about D&I

Translation into action, often referred to as evidence-based clinical practice guidelines, combining the evidential base and expertise to extend recommendations

Implementation science knowledge */ basic concepts and definitions of the science, its historic provenance/ to define the basic concepts of KT and use

Understand IS terminology/define IS terminology

Differentiate between IS research and related disciplines/Define what is versus what is not IS/Differentiate between D&I research and other related areas, such as efficacy research and effectiveness research.

Describe how IS relates to other sciences, such as improvement science and knowledge mobilisation

Identify the potential impact of IS methods

Identify the potential impact of disseminating, implementing, and sustaining effective interventions.

Identify EBPs worth implementing/the distinction between, and the evidence for, two practice-change technologies: clinical/behavior change interventions and implementation strategies

Generic presentation so applies to multiple disciplines

Implementation science: An organizational perspective

Designs and Types of Evidence for D&I Research

Knowledge - Theories, Models, and Frameworks

Identify appropriate conceptual models, frameworks, or program logic for D&I change/Principles and development of the theoretical approaches and models of IS

Describe a range of D&I strategies, models, and frameworks.

Map complex systems using causal flow diagrams

Determine the range of factors - behavioral, societal, ethical, institutional, political, economic, historical - that inform the research question, and design structure/contextual factors influencing implementation, such as organizational context and leadership, and the ability to understand whether a given study will observe, control, or manipulate those factors/Political & economic analysis, stakeholder assessments, cost-effectiveness

Knowledge - Strategies

Describe a range of IS strategies, models, and frameworks

Understanding translation and dissemination activities

Knowledge of implementation strategies

Describe a range of D&I strategies, models, and frameworks.

Knowledge about supporting change processes/understanding KT and EBP process

Develop an implementation team

Knowledge - Methods, Designs, and Measures

Pragmatic Trials 101

Describe participatory methods/ Articulate the strengths and weaknesses of participatory research in D&I research.

Determine when engagement in participatory research is appropriate with D&I research.

Describe study designs for IS research, including introduction to hybrid designs/ Understand the value of type 1 hybrid design in all phases of clinical research/Operationalize hybrid effectiveness-implementation designs when appropriate to accelerate the implementation of evidence-based interventions in real-world settings / Summarize study designs used in implementation research and their relative strength

Develop and assess processes and outcomes that support iterative cycles of implementation and bidirectional flow of information (e.g., learning health systems)

Describe the range of expertise needed to conduct D&I research (e.g., mixed-methods experience, economic, organizational, policy, clinical)

Identify IS measures

Knowledge of quality improvement methods and tools, communication strategies, and health policy and systems

Describe the core components of external validity and their relevance to D&I research.

Identify common D&I measures and analytic strategies relevant for your research question(s). (also in equity)

Identify and measure outcomes that matter to stakeholders, adopters, and implementers.

Describe the application and integration of mixed-method (quantitative and qualitative) approaches in D&I research.

Identify possible methods to address external validity in study design reporting and implementation.

List the potential roles of mediators and moderators in a D&I study/To identify KT mechanisms and activities

Identify and articulate the trade-offs between a variety of different study designs for D&I research.

Describe gaps in D&I measurement and critically evaluate how to fill them.

Describe how to use logic models/theories of change methodology in implementation studies

Describe how to conduct evaluation of complex health interventions

Describe how to measure successful partnerships for D&I research.

Define approaches for designing systems

Comparative effectiveness research

Compute sample size, power, and precision for comparisons of two independent samples with respect to continuous and binary outcomes.

Experimental design

Practical

Knowledge - Adaptation and fidelity

Describe the concept and measurement of fidelity

Describe the adaptation of an EBP/Clarify how the intervention can be modified or adjusted to meet local needs.

Understand the sources of error: fidelity/lapses in implementation as a source of reduced/heightened effect

Fit/adaptation: The capacity to control and manage organizational and community demands to ensure a balance between fit and fidelity to the critical components of the program. This focuses on the importance of recognizing the need, values, and acceptability of the EBP within the population and the capacity of the agency against the critical requirements and components of the program in question. This may include the capacity to make meaningful adaptations when necessary to increase the fit and acceptability for the organization and/or population of interest./Consider and enhance fit

Characterize process models that support iterative cycles of implementation and adaptation based on learning

Describe how adaptations will be documented throughout the D&I research project

 Balancing Fidelity and Adaptation: If We Want More Evidence-Based Practice, We Need More Practice-Based Evidence

Knowledge - Dissemination

Describe a process for designing for dissemination (planning for adoption, implementation, and sustainability during the intervention development stage)/Knowledge, dissemination, translation and diffusion research

Describe whether a study is a dissemination study

Dissemination science

Knowledge - De-implementation

Identify potential impact of de-implementation

Identify the potential impact of scaling down (aka de-implementing) an ineffective but often used intervention.

Knowledge - Ethics

Knowledge of ethical and legal guidelines

Responsible conduct of research and implementation

Summarize the importance of ethically and culturally competent clinical and community-based research in D&I science

Identify potential ethical issues in IR, such as safety of participants, power relationships, literacy, disruption of services