Implementation Science Toolkit for Clinicians

Abstract

Background: Clinicians are often familiar with quality improvement (QI) and evidence-based practice (EBP) processes, which provides guidance into what evidence should be implemented; however, these processes do not address how to successfully implement evidence.Objective: Clinicians would benefit from a deeper understanding of implementation science, along with practical tools for how to use these principles in QI and EBP projects.Methods: We provide a brief background of the principles of implementation science, an overview of current implementation science models and a toolkit to facilitate choosing and using common implementation science strategies. In addition, the toolkit provides guidance for measuring the success of an implementation science project and a case study showing how implementation science strategies can be used successfully in clinical practice.Conclusions: Using an implementation science toolkit for designing, conducting, and evaluating a QI or EBP project improves the quality and generalizability of results.

Misuse of the P Value

“…This article provides an introduction of how to interpret run charts and SPC charts for QI initiatives, and can be used in conjunction with implementation science methodologies to create an effective, sustainable practice change. 20 This practical knowledge and skill set may reduce the concern from clinicians about not having access to statistical software packages or statistician assistance, and increase their confidence with publishing projects that have clinical significance-even without a P value. Quality improvement teams may also fail to recognize the meaningful results of their initiative and may be at risk for wasting time and more resources searching for better interventions.…”

Uptake of Innovations in Nursing: The Necessity for Implementation Science

“…Nurse researchers and clinicians must work together with relevant stakeholders to design, implement, and evaluate innovations to bring meaningful change. Nurses in clinical settings should learn about and apply IS tools and methods to actively participate in implementation and help optimize the uptake of the innovations resulting from researchers' efforts (Reynolds & Granger, 2023). The large amount of published nursing research can take years to be translated into practice.…”

A Nurse-Led Implementation Science Specialist Program

“…Using an IS toolkit is known to potentially improve the quality and generalizability of results. 28 In January 2022, the IS specialists participated in an additional two-day educational workshop led by members of our health care system's professional practice team and nursing research and EBP team. The purpose of this workshop was to "prepare the ground" for the program launch by building confidence among the specialists and synthesizing their knowledge to promote IS application.…”

“…This training was created and provided by a national IS expert, and included IS frameworks, models, and a toolkit to guide IS projects (see Table 223–27 for a description of the toolkit). Using an IS toolkit is known to potentially improve the quality and generalizability of results 28…”