Why Look At Program Implementation?

Question 1

According to the history of Implementation, what were its origins within the social sciences?

Answer 1

It originated with the work of Extension Agents who worked collaboratively with farmers to gather data and assess findings to enhance their decision making. Farmers employed unorthodox methods to analyze and predict crop production.

Question 2

What is the fidelity of implementation?

Answer 2

Fidelity of Implementation (FOI) is the extent to which a program or intervention is enacted as originally intended and according to the design of program developers.

Question 3

What did Lakin & Rambo-Hernandez suggest about fidelity of implementation?

Answer 3

They suggest that Fidelity of Implementation (FOI) “helps evaluators and researchers to go beyond the ‘black box’ of interventions to identifying the specific mechanisms or components of the program that lead to desired outcomes”.

Question 4

Before concluding that a program worked, you must do what first?

Answer 4

You must have taken care to explain the details of the program’s operations and in providing an answer to the question “What Worked”?

Question 5

What is Implementation?

Answer 5

The process of putting an agreed plan, decision, proposal, idea or policy into effect.

Question 6

What is referred to as “Implementation Variation”?

Answer 6

Implementation Variation is this “gap” or disparity between the design of a program and/or what is conceived as, opposed to what is conveyed and delivered.

Question 7

What does research note about the correlation found in implementation procedures and the program’s outcome?

Answer 7

Research notes that there exists a positive correlation between high-quality implementation procedures/criteria and the tendency of programs’ outcomes/objectives to be achieved.

Question 8

What has been found in research based-evidence, regarding program implementation?

Answer 8

It is found that participants may receive more benefits as a result of better program implementation, or they may receive no significant benefit if program implementation is poor.

Question 9

What is Implementation Science?

Answer 9

Implementation Science is the scientific study of methods to promote the systemic uptake of research findings and other evidence-based practices into routine practice to improve the quality and effectiveness of health services and care.

Question 10

Why was Implementation Science was created?

Answer 10

Implementation science was borne out of a desire to address challenges associated with the use of research to achieve a more evidence-based practice in health care and other areas of professional practice.

Question 11

What is Diffusion, regarding Implementation being seen as a diffussion-dissemination-implementation continuum?

Answer 11

Diffusion is the passive, untargeted, and unplanned spread of new practices.

Question 12

What is Dissemination, regarding Implementation being seen as a diffussion-dissemination-implementation continuum?

Answer 12

Dissemination is the active spread of new practices to the target audience using planned strategies.

Question 13

What is Implementation, regarding Implementation being seen as a diffussion-dissemination-implementation continuum.

Answer 13

Implementation is the process of putting to use or integrating new practices within a setting.

Question 14

What are the three (3) aims of the use of theories, models, and frameworks in implementation science?

Answer 14

1. ) Defining and navigating methods of converting research into practice
2. ) Interpreting and describing factors that affect implementation outcomes.
3. ) Assessing implementation.

Question 15

What are the five (5) categories of theoretical approaches?

Answer 15

1. ) Process Models - used to describe and or guide the process of translating research into practice.
2. ) Determinant Frameworks - Specifies types of determinants and individual determinants, which act as a barrier and enablers (independent variables) that influence implementation outcomes (dependent variables).
3. ) Classic Theories - Theories that originate from fields external to implementation science (ie. psychology, sociology, etc..)
4. ) Implementation Theories - Theories that have been developed by implementation researchers (from scratch or by adapting existing theories and concepts).
5. ) Evaluation Frameworks - Specify aspects of implementation that could be evaluated to determine implementation success.

Question 16

What are the Implementation Stages?

Answer 16

1. ) Exploration - Assess needs, examine intervention components, consider implementation drivers, Assess fit.
2. ) Installation - Acquire resources, prepare the organization, prepare implementation drivers, prepare staff.
3. ) Initial Implementation - Adjust implementation drivers, manage change, deploy data systems, initiate improvement cycles.
4. ) Full Implementation - Monitor/manage implementation drivers, achieve fidelity and outcome benchmarks, further improve fidelity and outcome.

Question 17

What are the questions that help program implementers or designers to design an implementation plan or action plan?

Answer 17

1. ) Who are the people to be involved?
2. ) What are the activities/strategies to be implemented?
3. ) How would I assign responsibilities?
4. ) How would I allocate the scarce resources?
5. ) Setting Timelines

Question 18

What are the four (4) temporal phases involved in quality implementation?

Answer 18

• Phase One: Initial considerations regarding the host setting.
• Phase Two: Creating a structure for implementation.
• Phase Three: Ongoing structure once implementation begins.
• Phase Four: Improving future applications.

Question 19

Who are responsible for quality implementation?

Answer 19

The stakeholders include researchers, program developers, local practitioners, funders, policymakers and local administration.

Question 20

According to the US Department of Health & Human Services, when are opportunities for quality implementation are enhanced?

Answer 20

Opportunities for quality implementation are enhanced when multiple stakeholders work collaboratively and approach implementation in a careful, systematic fashion over time.