---

The Department of Health Policy and Administration, College of Public Health, University of the Philippines Manila (DHPA-CPH-UPM) invites you to:

Rationale

Implementation research (IR) must be a central component of policy and program implementation, as well as a part of the decision-making and problem-solving process. It identifies common implementation issues, determines factors that may obstruct or facilitate access to health interventions, develops and tests solutions, determines the best ways to introduce innovations into the health system, or promotes evidence uptake to scale up and sustain interventions. However, numerous significant individuals and organizations still have a misunderstanding of what IR is and what it can provide, resulting in inefficient use of vital resources. Furthermore, given the complexity of existing and growing public health concerns around the world that necessitate the development and adoption of creative solutions, it is critical to increasing the number of researchers who are familiar with and appreciate the application of implementation research. This short course will provide scholars and implementers with the chance to use IR to strengthen health systems, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

Goals

The short course’s purpose is to improve participants’ knowledge and skills in developing and conducting implementation research to address needs and improve the quality and effectiveness of healthcare delivery in a specific setting or context. It will provide an in-depth grasp of how to address relevant implementation research questions using appropriate models, frameworks, designs, and techniques. During each session, participants will present an application of implementation science to their research topic. The short course training will culminate in a research protocol containing IR features that can be submitted for funding and implementation.

Objectives

This short course on implementation research training aims to:

1. explain the field of implementation research and program evaluation;
2. describe how to study and implement research findings into practice;
3. differentiate the relevant theoretical models, research designs, and measurement used in implementation research;
4. demonstrate various ways of collaborating and networking nationally and globally in implementation research; and
5. showcase the range of applications of implementation research and the uptake of research findings into policy and practice.

Outcomes

After completing the implementation research short course, the participants will be able to:

1. assess the relevance of implementation research in the delivery of quality and effective health care;
2. formulate research questions in implementation research;
3. evaluate common research methods, study designs, and data sources in implementation research;
4. explain the different ethical considerations in conducting implementation research;
5. determine various applications of research evidence in implementation research;
6. present a customized implementation research proposal; and
7. utilize an implementation research approach in addressing specific issues in their setting or context.

Activity details, mode of delivery, and duration

The implementation research short course is a 20-hour training course taught by local and international experts over four days (July 19-22, 2022). It will be conducted entirely online, with a half-day training session every morning. The short course will consist of a mix of online interactive didactics and debates, assignments with dedicated time to complete them, and workshops with break-out discussions and plenary presentations. Training participants can apply their new knowledge to their research topic or issue of interest through assignments and workshops. During the seminars, one to two faculty instructors will provide comments and support to each break-out group. There are 11 interactive lectures and four workshops in this course.

For further information, and to apply, please visit the application page.

Interactive Lectures

Lecture 1: Overview of implementation research – key concepts and issues

Speaker: Dr. Edward Mberu Kamau Technical Officer World Health Organization (WHO) Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR) Geneva, Switzerland

Suggested readings:

1. A guide to implementation research in the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases (World Health Organization. (2016). A guide to implementation research in the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2016. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.)
2. Implementation research in health: a practical guide. (Peters, D. H., Tran, N. T., & Adam, T. (2013). Implementation research in health: a practical guide. World Health Organization.)
3. Implementation research: what it is and how to do it. (Peters, D. H., Adam, T., Alonge, O., Agyepong, I. A., & Tran, N. (2013). Implementation research: what it is and how to do it. BMJ (Clinical research ed.), 347, f6753. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.f6753)

Lecture 2: Framing implementation research questions

Speaker: Dr. Yodi Mahendradhata, Vice Dean for Research and Development Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing Universitas Gadjah Mada

Suggested readings:

1. Recorded lecture: https://youtu.be/srC10_luRfw
2. Frame your question: https://impsciuw.org/implementation-science/research/frame-your-question/

Lecture 3: Theories, Models and Frameworks                      

Speaker: Dr. Yodi Mahendradhata, Vice Dean for Research and Development Faculty of Medicine, Public Health and Nursing Universitas Gadjah Mada

Suggested readings:

1. Recorded lecture: https://youtu.be/12DAJXj1u2E
2. https://implementationscience.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13012-015-0242-0

Lecture 4: Implementation strategies

Speaker: Prof Brian Oldenburg Professor of Public Health & Implementation Science Director, Academic Research Collaboration in Health (ARCH), Alfred Hospital Baker Heart & Diabetes Institute and LaTrobe University

Suggested readings:

1. Recorded lecture: https://youtu.be/tJn9-so3ggw
2. Identify implementation strategy: https://impsciuw.org/implementation-science/research/implementation-strategies/
3. Implementation strategies: https://implementationscience.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1748-5908-8-139

Lecture 5: Research methods in implementation research         

Speaker: Dr. Jason Alacapa Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder Innovations for Community Health

Suggested readings:

1. Research methods in Implementation Science: https://impsciuw.org/implementation-science/research/select-research-methods/
2. Palinkas L, et al. (2011). Mixed Method Designs in Implementation Research. Administration and Policy in Mental Health, 38:44-53.
3. Lewis A, Procotr EK, Brownson R. (2018). Measurement Issues in Dissemination and Implementation Research (Chapter 14).
4. Rabin B, et al. (2016). Measurement resources for dissemination and implementation research in health. Implementation Science, 11:42.

Lecture 6: Study designs in implementation research     

Speaker: Prof Brian Oldenburg, Professor of Public Health & Implementation Science Director, Academic Research Collaboration in Health (ARCH), Alfred Hospital Baker Heart & Diabetes Institute and LaTrobe University

Suggested readings:

1. Brown, CH, et al. (2017). An overview of research and evaluation designs for dissemination and implementation. Annual Review of Public Health, 38:1-22.
2. Creswell JW, Klassen AC, Plano Clark VL, and Smith KC for the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research. Best practices for mixed methods research in the health sciences. (2011). National Institutes of Health.
3. Curran G, et al. (2012). Effectiveness- implementation Hybrid Designs: Combining Elements of Clinical Effectives and Implementation Research to Enhance Public Health Impact. Medical Care, 50(3): 217-226.

Lecture 7: Measuring outcomes in implementation research     

Speaker: Dr. Tilahun Haregu, Research Fellow, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute, Australia

Suggested readings:

1. Proctor, E., Silmere, H., Raghavan, R. et al. Outcomes for Implementation Research: Conceptual Distinctions, Measurement Challenges, and Research Agenda. Adm Policy Ment Health 38, 65–76 (2011)
2. Lewis, C.C., Fischer, S., Weiner, B.J. et al. Outcomes for implementation science: an enhanced systematic review of instruments using evidence-based rating criteria. Implementation Sci 10, 155 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13012-015-0342-x

Lecture 8: Stakeholder engagement in implementation research          

Speaker 1: Dr. Tilahun Haregu, Research Fellow, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute

Speaker 2: Dr. Eleanor Castillo, Professor Department of Health Promotion and Education College of Public Health, UP Manila

Suggested readings:

1. Peters, D.H., Bhuiya, A. & Ghaffar, A. Engaging stakeholders in implementation research: lessons from the Future Health Systems Research Programme experience. Health Res Policy Sys 15, 104 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12961-017-0269-6
2. Goodman MS, Sanders Thompson VL. The science of stakeholder engagement in research: classification, implementation, and evaluation. Transl Behav Med. 2017 Sep;7(3):486-491

Lecture 9: Getting funding: Global experience and challenges in implementation research and knowledge translation          

Speaker 1: Prof Brian Oldenburg, Professor of Public Health & Implementation Science Director, Academic Research Collaboration in Health (ARCH), Alfred Hospital Baker Heart & Diabetes Institute and LaTrobe University  

Speaker 2: Dr. Keiko Nakamura Professor Department of Global Health Entrepreneurship Tokyo Medical and Dental University

Lecture 10: Ethics in implementation research   

Speaker: Dr. Olumide Ogundahunsi, Professor and Director Research, Innovation, and Development, University of medical State, Nigeria

Suggested readings:

1. Luyckx VA, Reis A, Maher D, Vahedi M. Highlighting the ethics of implementation research. Lancet Glob Health. 2019 Sep;7(9):e1170-e1171.
2. Gopichandran, V., Luyckx, V.A., Biller-Andorno, N. et al. Developing the ethics of implementation research in health. Implementation Sci 11, 161 (2016).

Lecture 11: Case studies of existing projects or research projects: applying implementation science in real-world projects     

Speaker 1: Dr. Vicente Y. Belizario Jr. Former Dean and Professor College of Public Health University of the Philippines Manila SEAMEO TROPMED

Speaker 2: Dr. Carl Abelardo T. Antonio Associate Professor, Department of Health Policy and Administration College of Public Health, UP Manila

Speaker 3: Dr. Erlyn A. Sana Professor National Teacher Training Center for the Health Professions Chair Office of Research and Development University of the Philippines Manila

Facilitated group sessions for participants

Group session 1: Implementation research topic and research question

The aim of this workshop is for the participants to discuss within the break-out and plenary group their specific research topic of interest and research question that can be answered through the use of the concepts of implementation research.

Group session 2: Study design and research method

The aim of this workshop is for the participants to discuss within the break-out and plenary group the appropriate study design and research method that they would like to utilize in their implementation research plan.

Group session 3: Implementation research outcomes and relevant stakeholders

The aim of this workshop is for the participants to discuss within the break-out and plenary group the specific implementation research outcomes to be measured and the relevant stakeholders they would like to include in their implementation research plan.

Group session 4: Implementation research proposal

The aim of this workshop is for the participants to discuss within the break-out and plenary group their draft implementation research proposal.

Organisers: DHPA-CPH Training Team

GACD are delighted to be working alongside our colleagues in the field of implementation science to develop and deliver the regional short course:

• Dr. TJ Robinson T. Moncatar
• Dr. Carmelita S. Canila
• Dr. Fernando B. Garcia Jr.
• Dr. Emerito Jose A. Faraon
• Dr. Carl Abelardo T. Antonio
• Dr. Frederick S. Nieto

---

We are keen to receive your feedback on the e-Hub to improve it further. We would appreciate you completing a short survey, available here.

If you would like to provide more detailed feedback, please contact us at contact.ehub@implementationscience-gacd.org.

---