The U.S. training institute for dissemination and implementation research in health

Abstract

BackgroundThe science of dissemination and implementation (D&I) is advancing the knowledge base for how best to integrate evidence-based interventions within clinical and community settings and how to recast the nature or conduct of the research itself to make it more relevant and actionable in those settings. While the field is growing, there are only a few training programs for D&I research; this is an important avenue to help build the field’s capacity. To improve the United States’ capacity for D&I research, the National Institutes of Health and Veterans Health Administration collaborated to develop a five-day training institute for postdoctoral level applicants aspiring to advance this science.MethodsWe describe the background, goals, structure, curriculum, application process, trainee evaluation, and future plans for the Training in Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health (TIDIRH).ResultsThe TIDIRH used a five-day residential immersion to maximize opportunities for trainees and faculty to interact. The train-the-trainer-like approach was intended to equip participants with materials that they could readily take back to their home institutions to increase interest and further investment in D&I. The TIDIRH curriculum included a balance of structured large group discussions and interactive small group sessions.Thirty-five of 266 applicants for the first annual training institute were accepted from a variety of disciplines, including psychology (12 trainees); medicine (6 trainees); epidemiology (5 trainees); health behavior/health education (4 trainees); and 1 trainee each from education & human development, health policy and management, health services research, public health studies, public policy and social work, with a maximum of two individuals from any one institution. The institute was rated as very helpful by attendees, and by six months after the institute, a follow-up survey (97% return rate) revealed that 72% had initiated a new grant proposal in D&I research; 28% had received funding, and 77% had used skills from TIDIRH to influence their peers from different disciplines about D&I research through building local research networks, organizing formal presentations and symposia, teaching and by leading interdisciplinary teams to conduct D&I research.ConclusionsThe initial TIDIRH training was judged successful by trainee evaluation at the conclusion of the week’s training and six-month follow-up, and plans are to continue and possibly expand the TIDIRH in coming years. Strengths are seen as the residential format, quality of the faculty and their flexibility in adjusting content to meet trainee needs, and the highlighting of concrete D&I examples by the local host institution, which rotates annually. Lessons learned and plans for future TIDIRH trainings are summarized.

Mapping training needs for dissemination and implementation research: lessons from a synthesis of existing D&I research training programs

“…The major emphasis of training at this stage is in achieving a base level of understanding of theories, methods and key questions, and beginning independent pilot studies. Increasingly, post-doctoral and junior investigators are a significant proportion of the participating group of summer training institute trainees [4,5], and many have transitioned to principal investigator on D&I studies [14]. Junior investigators in D&I also use the career development award for both training and pilot research activities.…”

“…Many of the training programs referred to in this paper have undergone some type of evaluation (4,5,7,13), which has helped to reinforce the impact of the training for the D&I community. However, given the ongoing evolution of the field, the importance of continual assessment and updating is essential to ensure the relevance and long-term contribution of training programs.…”

“…Popular among these have been the NIH/VA-organized Training Institute for Dissemination and Implementation Research in Health (TIDIRH) [4] the Washington University-St. Louis-hosted Implementation Research Institute [5] and Mentored Training for Dissemination and Implementation Research in Cancer [6], the KT Canada Summer Training Institute [7], Prevention and Control of Cancer Post-Doctoral Training in Implementation Science (PRACCTIS) [8], and multiple technical assistance workshops held at the annual NIH/VA D&I annual research conferences [9]. In planning the training meeting in September 2013, we became aware of an additional set of programs.…”

Reducing Cardiovascular Disparities Through Community-Engaged Implementation Research

“…115 117 may help stimulate interest in further training and launch careers. However, more intensive and extended training will likely be necessary to build skills, especially those related to community engagement.…”

Practice-Based Evidence in Public Health: Improving Reach, Relevance, and Results

“…In addition to these examples, Tabak and colleagues identified 61 different models for dissemination and implementation research (80). Additional tools and theories that may be useful in practice-based research include planning models such as PRECEDE-PROCEDE (18), the measurement of proximal outcomes (21,78), and the use of interdisciplinary research teams (57). The use of planning models such as PRECEDE-PROCEDE ensures that applicability and generalizability of findings are not afterthoughts, but instead a part of the study design process.…”