Summary:

Designs and methods for implementation research: Advancing the mission of the CTSA program

This article describes designs and methods that are currently applied in implementation research. The authors first define common terms, describing the goals, and presenting some overarching considerations and challenges for designing implementation research studies. They then describe experimental, quasi-experimental, observational, effectiveness–implementation “hybrid,” and simulation modeling designs and offer examples of each. The article concludes with recommendations for how the Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) program can build capacity for implementation research to advance its mission of reducing the lag from discovery to patient and population benefit.

Authors: Hwang, Soohyun; Birken, Sarah A; Melvin, Cathy L; Rohweder, Catherine L; Smith, Justin D