Table 1 Articulating the “WH-” and “How” underlying where we implementation science to be in the future and example strategies toward getting us there

Who

• Research-focused training

• Trainees often from one or only a few fields

• Training that includes all implementation partners (e.g., implementation scientists, practitioners, policymakers, community organizations, health systems)

• Trainings cross fields to maximize learning

• Engagement efforts

• Training of researchers, practitioners, and policymaker teams

• Solicitation of key priorities of all

#3: Support and capacity building is needed for all Implementation Science (IS)-oriented partners, at increasing levels of depth.

#4: An IS Ecosystem, made up of partnerships among community and clinical settings, is essential to scaling up what we ask and what we learn.

#5: Patients, practitioners, and policymakers should be at the center of IS investigations.

What

• Primary focus on applying IS to initial implementation as a single point in the IS lifecycle

• Mix of virtual and in-person training

• High priority areas of study

• Adaptation/evolution/sustainment

• Bundling of EBPs

• De-implementation

• Sustainment

• Develop empirical evidence about the benefits of different training formats for different skill levels.

• Workshops and conferences

• Ongoing funding opportunities

#1: IS is about relevant, impactful questions, and robust, rigorous, and valid research methods and measures, not identities or terms.

#2: IS is built on a foundation of medical, behavioral, and social sciences and values and leverages those contributions.

#4: An IS Ecosystem, is essential to scaling up

Where

• Opportunistic in selection of setting

• Partnerships in a limited range of settings

• Partners typically have a history of research engagement

• Broader diversity of implementation settings and partners

• Partnerships selected strategically and holistically

• Engagement of system/community leaders to support integration in a range of settings

• Exploration/enhancement of existing data systems

• Assess fit with ongoing activities (e.g., QI, implementation efforts)

#4: An IS ecosystem, is essential to scaling up

#5: Patients, practitioners, and policymakers should be at the center of IS investigations.

Why

• To implement a specific intervention in a specific setting

• To provide optimal clinical and community care to all

• Identify metrics of optimal care across settings

• Develop dashboard to support prioritization

#4: An IS Ecosystem, is essential to scaling up

#5: Patients, practitioners, and policymakers should be at the center of IS investigations.

When

• Researchers identify questions when funding opportunities arise

• As questions arise and answers are needed by partners

• Improve rapid cycle methods of research

• Improve data sharing/pooled analyses

#1: IS is about relevant questions, and rigorous methods and measures, not identities or terms.

#4: An IS Ecosystem, is essential to scaling up

#5: Patients, practitioners, and policymakers should be at the center of IS investigations.

How

• Research team identifies topic and questions of interest

• Design choices focus on rigor

• Data analysis yields gaps/inequities in implementation

• Questions are developed and prioritized by teams

• Range of designs to be responsive, rigorous, and relevant to context

• Findings are shared across the “tent”

• Creation of an implementation science data ecosystem

• Collaborative platforms to support question generation and prioritization

• Availability of resources to support use of rigorous and relevant study designs

#1: IS is about relevant questions, and rigorous methods and measures, not identities or terms.

#2: IS is built on a broad foundation and values and leverages those contributions

#3: Support and capacity building is needed for all partners, at depth

#4: An IS Ecosystem, is essential to scaling up

#5: Patients, practitioners, and policymakers should be at the center of IS investigations.