Implementation science in healthcare: How to effectively translate evidence based innovations into real-world settings

Implementation science is an emerging field that builds on clinical and health services research to support the effective translation of evidence-based innovations into real-world practice. Despite strong evidence, many innovations take years to be implemented, if at all. Implementation science addresses this gap by offering methods to understand, design, and evaluate implementation processes across diverse settings.

This course aims to provide participants, such as  researchers, healthcare and public health practitioners, health system leaders and managers, NGOs, policymakers and global health and development professionals, with foundational knowledge and practical competencies to apply implementation science in their own contexts. Key topics include assessment of the strength of evidence, patient and public involvement, theories, models and frameworks, contextual analysis, implementation strategies, and hybrid and other implementation science study designs. Evaluation is addressed from both effectiveness and implementation perspectives.

Teaching methods include lectures, case-based group work, and interactive discussions. Examples from high-, middle-, and low-resource settings are used throughout to support application of implementation science concepts across different healthcare contexts.

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By the end of the course participants will be able to:

• Explain the purpose and value of implementation science (IS) in improving the uptake of innovations across diverse healthcare settings and in reducing different forms of research waste;
• Formulate implementation-relevant research questions across the stages of an implementation programme and identify appropriate study designs to address these questions;
• Describe the role of theories, models, and frameworks in implementation science and select appropriate approaches to support implementation research and practice;
• Discuss the purpose and approaches of patient and public involvement and engagement in implementation science projects, including their added value and practical considerations;
• Explain why context matters in implementation science and describe methods for conducting a contextual analysis to inform implementation efforts;
• Summarise the evidence base for implementation strategies and design appropriate implementation strategies or strategy bundles tailored to specific contexts;
• Differentiate key implementation outcomes and describe commonly used approaches for their measurement;
• Apply core implementation science concepts in group discussions and project work, demonstrating active engagement and critical reflection.

Basic competencies in clinical research methods and statistics.

• Readings;
• Lectures;
• Discussion rounds;
• Project work in learning groups.

To get the Certificate of completion and the 1 ECTS participants must:

• Attend at least 80% of the course;
• Attend the plenary(s) offered during the days of the course;
• Actively participate during classes and project work in learning groups;
• Deliver a presentation of project work for each learning group.

The facilitators plan to be present in Lugano, and the course will be held entirely on-site. If face-to-face meeting was problematic for unforeseen reasons, the course could be held online or using a hybrid format. The course will take place at Università della Svizzera italiana (USI).

For course pricing information, see here. Discounts are available for participants from UMICs, LMICs, PhD and Master Students, and Students and Employees from the LSS Partner Universities (SSPH+, USI, SUPSI, and SWISS TPH).

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