TY - JOUR AU - Lengnick-Hall, Rebecca AU - Willging, Cathleen AU - Hurlburt, Michael AU - Fenwick, Karissa AU - Aarons, Gregory A. PY - 2020 DA - 2020/06/11 TI - Contracting as a bridging factor linking outer and inner contexts during EBP implementation and sustainment: a prospective study across multiple U.S. public sector service systems JO - Implementation Science SP - 43 VL - 15 IS - 1 AB - Bridging factors are relational ties (e.g. partnerships), formal arrangements (e.g. contracts or polices) and processes (e.g. data sharing agreements) linking outer and inner contexts and are a recent evolution of the Exploration-Preparation-Implementation-Sustainment (EPIS) framework. Bridging factor research can elucidate ways that service systems may influence and/or be influenced by organizations providing health services. This study used the EPIS framework and open systems and resource dependence theoretical approaches to examine contracting arrangements in U.S. public sector systems. Contracting arrangements function as bridging factors through which systems communicate, interact, and exchange resources with the organizations operating within them. SN - 1748-5908 UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s13012-020-00999-9 DO - 10.1186/s13012-020-00999-9 ID - Lengnick-Hall2020 ER -