Dissemination and Implementation Science

A Tower of Rocks

 

Implementation science can be defined as “the scientific study of methods to promote the systematic uptake of research findings and other evidence-based practices into routine practice, and, hence, to improve the quality and effectiveness of health services.”*  The MHTTC Network uses findings from implementation science research to provide more effective training and technical assistance services. 

 

* Bauer, M. S., Damschroder, L., Hagedorn, H., Smith, J., & Kilbourne, A. M. (2015). An introduction to implementation science for the non-specialist. BMC Psychology, 3(1), 32. doi:10.1186/s40359-015-0089-9.

Article IconAn introduction to implementation science for the non-specialist:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4573926/

 

 

 

Making it Stick: A Practical Approach to Dissemination and Implementation

At a time when SAMHSA is looking to drive real change in practice, dissemination and implementation (D&I) science can help. The MHTTC Dissemination and Implementation Working Group held a three-session learning community in Summer 2022 to build capacity of the TTCs to use D&I science in planning, technical assistance and training activities, with the goal of increasing the impact of these activities to change practice. Each 90-minute session was a mix of didactic presentations, case studies, and peer discussions. The materials from this learning community will be posted soon.

 

Implementation Project Template

The Implementation Project Template (link coming soon) was developed by the Mental Health Technology Transfer Center (MHTTC) Dissemination & Implementation (D&I) Working Group, with feedback from the ATTC and PTTC Networks. This template is a tool to assist in planning and tracking the progress of implementation support/technical assistance projects that have the goal of implementing an intervention/program/practice (versus those focused on awareness raising or training only).

This template consists of three iterative forms: Exploration/Preparation, Implementation, and Sustainment. Each builds on the information entered previously, with several new fields that appear in the latter two forms. The new data elements in each successive form are highlighted yellow.

 

Making it Stick: A Guide to Using Dissemination and Implementation Science in Planning High-Impact Training and Technical Assistance

The materials from the internal learning community also served as the basis for a new D&I guide, Making it Stick: A Guide to Using Dissemination and Implementation Science in Planning High-Impact Training and Technical Assistance.

The purpose of this guide is to demonstrate how TA purveyors can use D&I science findings, models, and frameworks to provide the most effective training and technical assistance to accelerate practice change. The guide includes real-world TA examples, exercises that can be used by TA purveyor teams to learn about how to apply D&I science to their work, and an implementation project template that helps a TA purveyor plan and track an intensive TA activity. The guide will be posted soon.

 

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