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

About

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.

Course leader

Dr. Sabina De-Geest (University of Basel), Dr. Lauren Clack (University of Zurich), & Aita Signorell (Swiss TPH)

Target group

Practitioners, researchers, and graduate students

Course aim

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.

Fee info

Discounts are available for PhD and Master’s students, participants from UMICs and LMICs, and members of LSS partner institutions (USI, SUPSI, Swiss TPH, and SSPH+). For details on fees and available discounts, contact us at info@ssph-lugano-summerschool.ch or visit our website.