Abstract
The field of implementation research is remarkable in many ways and, even as a young discipline, it has expanded well beyond the expectations of even its most optimistic supporters and stakeholders. In this overview we provide a selective rather than systematic review to serve as a relevant introduction to the field of implementation science. We highlight central concepts, strategies, frameworks, and research outcomes. These highlights draw heavily on the seminal systematic reviews from Brownson, Colditz, and Proctor (2012), Fixsen, Naoom, Blase, Friedman, and Wallace (2005), and Greenhalgh, Robert, MacFarlane, Bate, and Kyriakidou (2004) and on a thorough comparative review of implementation frameworks conducted by Meyers, Durlak, and Wandersman (2012). Looking ahead to future implementation research, we consider research challenges related to the scaling up of programs, striking a good balance between treatment integrity and local adaptation, measuring implementation quality, and program sustainability.
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