Background
Perspectives from early-stage investigators
Domain | Quote |
---|---|
Practice linkages | ‘I think this is a key area, but it takes time to form these practice linkages, and they are not always seen as important in the academic world… I guess I'd say stick with it, as it can pay off in the long-term. I've always been focused on how my work has practical implications for service providers, so I think this focus has been immensely helpful in my work to date.’ |
Methods training | ‘I attend various brief professional development seminars… [and] bring strong methods people into my projects to assist with these areas. It seems that the stats/methods areas are continually changing, and there is no way for me to maintain a state of the art focus on those areas, and my other content areas…so I work to keep my skills up, but collaborate with others who specialize in these areas.’ |
Technical assistance | ‘This process of mentoring through NIH and IES [Institute of Educational Sciences] grant writing has been so valuable and has helped me become far more competitive....just the process of shaping ideas into reasonable and compelling grant proposals has been very helpful.’ |
Institutional supports | ‘I think your home mentor is really the gatekeeper… [can offer] support for protected time to go off-site and meet with potential collaborators,… building a research program during the first three years, availability of research assistants, committee burden, supervision of doctoral students, travel/training budget.’ |
Academic advancement/ incentives | ‘The name of the game is still publications and grant funding, so although practice collaborations may be recognized on some level, they will likely be most recognized if they are reflected in a publication or a strong grant application.’ |
Mentorship | ‘It is important to connect and take advantage of mentors and colleagues who are fair, generous and resourceful. Be open to learning from other disciplines about theory and methodology when considering your implementation research. It is difficult to do D&I research by yourself, a team approach is key.’ |
Goal orientation | ‘Although discouraging at times and lacking in immediate results remember you are building towards something that in the end is the toughest gap to bridge in science and can be very rewarding.’ |
Developing practice linkages
Methods training
Type | Title | Brief description | Website/Information |
---|---|---|---|
Training Programs | NIH Training Institute on Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health (TIDIRH) | Five-day training and mentoring focusing on all areas of health | |
VA Quality Enhancement Research Initiative (QUERI) Enhancing Implementation Science (EIS) Conference | Recorded training conference plus follow-up cyber seminars addressing: overview of implementation science; theoretical frameworks and design of implementation programs; and evaluation designs and methods | ||
Knowledge Translation Canada Summer Institute | Three-day program employing active learning strategies, mentorship opportunities, and peer-to-peer networking | ||
Conferences | NIH Conference on the Science of Dissemination and Implementation* | Two-day conference hosted by Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, and the VA | |
Global Implementation Conference | Biennial conference on the science and practice of using science in practice | ||
Seattle Implementation Research Conference | Biennial conference on the implementation of psychosocial interventions, with an emphasis on tangible products and tools and developing junior colleagues | ||
Resources | Dissemination and Implementation in Health e-Newsletter | Distributes late-breaking information on research, practice and policy activities in D&I in health care and public health | Contact wenorton@uab.edu for details |
VA QUERI Cyber Seminar Series | Cyber seminars addressing: overview of implementation science; theoretical frameworks and design of implementation programs; and evaluation designs and methods | ||
National Implementation Research Network | Mission is to contribute to the best practices and science of implementation, organization change, and system reinvention to improve outcomes across the spectrum of human services | ||
Seattle Implementation Research Conference measures project | Development of a comprehensive library of D&I instruments measuring influences on implementation |
Academic advancement and incentives
Institutional supports
Mentorship as a cross-cutting issue
Context for future directions
Rank | Male | Female | Total |
---|---|---|---|
% (freq) | % (freq) | % (freq) | |
Full | 61.1 (11) | 38.9 (7) | 43.9 (18) |
Associate | 40.0 (6) | 60.0 (9) | 36.6 (15) |
Assistant | 25.0 (2) | 75.0 (6) | 19.5 (8) |
Total | 46.3 (19) | 53.7 (22) | 41 |