1 Padian, N. S., C.B. Holmes, S.I. McCoy, R. Lyerla., Bouey, P. D., & Goosby, E. P. (2011). “Implementation science for the US president's emergency plan for AIDS relief (PEPFAR).” Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 56(3): 199-203.
Definition
Apply Knowledge
Optimize Practice
Through Research
Policy and Practice
"Implementation science is the study of methods to improve the uptake, implementation, and translation of research findings into routine and common practices (the 'know-do' or 'evidence to program' gap).”1
1 Jones, G., Steketee, R. W., Black, R. E., Bhutta, Z. A., Morris, S. S., & Bellagio. (2003). “How many child deaths can we prevent this year?” Lancet 362 (9377): 65-71.
Implementation research rests on the public health value of applying what we already know to achieve long-term health benefits that are within reach. A review by Jones et al. suggests that about two-thirds of child deaths could be prevented by interventions that are available today and feasible for implementation in low-income countries at high levels of population coverage. 1
1 Kottke, T. E., Solberg, L. I., Nelson, A. F., Belcher, D. W., Caplan, W., Green, L. W., et al. (2008). “Optimizing practice through research: A new perspective to solve an old problem.” Annals of Family Medicine 6(5): 459-462.
In their discussion of translational research, Kottke et al. use the term optimizing practice through research.1 This is a good way to think of IR, which addresses challenges at the intersection of public health research and practice. According to Leroy et al., “The main challenge today is to transfer what we already know into action; deliver the interventions we have in hand to [those] who need them.” 2
As funding makes a departure away from short-term goals and pilot projects, IR works to meet that challenge and move toward long-term goals, sustainability and scale-up. IR aims to integrate evidence-based interventions and research findings into health policy and practice.
2 Leroy, J. L., Habicht, J. P., Pelto, G., & Bertozzi, S. M. (2007). “Current priorities in health research funding and lack of impact on the number of child deaths per year.” American Journal of Public Health 97(2): 219-223.