Researcher readiness for participating in community-engaged dissemination and implementation research: a conceptual framework of core competencies

Abstract

Participating in community-engaged dissemination and implementation (CEDI) research is challenging for a variety of reasons. Currently, there is not specific guidance or a tool available for researchers to assess their readiness to conduct CEDI research. We propose a conceptual framework that identifies detailed competencies for researchers participating in CEDI and maps these competencies to domains. The framework is a necessary step toward developing a CEDI research readiness survey that measures a researcher's attitudes, willingness, and self-reported ability for acquiring the knowledge and performing the behaviors necessary for effective community engagement. The conceptual framework for CEDI competencies was developed by a team of eight faculty and staff affiliated with a university's Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA). The authors developed CEDI competencies by identifying the attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors necessary for carrying out commonly accepted CE principles. After collectively developing an initial list of competencies, team members individually mapped each competency to a single domain that provided the best fit. Following the individual mapping, the group held two sessions in which the sorting preferences were shared and discrepancies were discussed until consensus was reached. During this discussion, modifications to wording of competencies and domains were made as needed. The team then engaged five community stakeholders to review and modify the competencies and domains. The CEDI framework consists of 40 competencies organized into nine domains: perceived value of CE in D&I research, introspection and openness, knowledge of community characteristics, appreciation for stakeholder's experience with and attitudes toward research, preparing the partnership for collaborative decision-making, collaborative planning for the research design and goals, communication effectiveness, equitable distribution of resources and credit, and sustaining the partnership. Delineation of CEDI competencies advances the broader CE principles and D&I research goals found in the literature and facilitates development of readiness assessments tied to specific training resources for researchers interested in conducting CEDI research.

Community coalition readiness for implementing something new: Using a Delphi methodology

“…Readiness measurement typically occurs during the earliest stages of implementation (Shea et al., ; NIRN, n.d.), whereas the R = MC 2 framework recommends assessing readiness at multiple time points (Scott, Kenworthy, et al., ). Results from this Delphi study indicate measurement should be paired with an assessment of implementation stage.…”

“…Researchers delineate the milestones of successful implementation into stages or phases of implementation, often through the completion of specific activities or factors (Aarons, Hurlburt, & Horwitz, ; Nadeem, Saldana, Chapman, & Schaper, ). One factor for successful implementation is readiness (Hall & Hord, ; Shea et al., ). Organizational readiness is critical for quality implementation of a new practice and subsequent positive clinical outcomes (Weiner, Amick, & Lee, ) and can include multiple components and subcomponents.…”

“…Because readiness fluctuates over time (Scott, Kenworthy, et al., ), regular monitoring of readiness factors is critical to determine when supports are necessary and whether the innovation should continue. The R = MC 2 framework is distinct from other conceptualizations of organizational readiness (e.g., Shea et al., ) in its emphasis that (a) readiness is important not only before implementation begins but also throughout the life cycle of implementation, and (b) the constructs that determine readiness are not binary (“ready or not”); instead, they can be conceptualized as a gradient of more or less ready in specific areas.…”

Opportunities and challenges in conducting community-engaged dissemination/implementation research

“…Other articles in the special section have measurement implications, such as the work of Shea [11] and colleagues who outline instrument development as a next step from their CEDI framework. Measurement at the environmental/organizational level is discussed in the article by Kwon [19] and colleagues.…”

“…The importance of a conceptual framework for researcher readiness for participating in CEDI, based on a set of core competencies, is presented in the article by Shea [11] and colleagues. This article highlights a set of 40 competencies among nine domains including but not limited to perceived value of community engagement in D&I research, knowledge of community characteristics, and collaborative planning of the research.…”