Trials and tribulations: a qualitative exploration of researcher perspectives on navigating the challenges of health system implementation research.

Trials and tribulations: a qualitative exploration of researcher perspectives on navigating the challenges of health system implementation research.

Publication date: Jan 15, 2025

While researchers are crucial to the successful delivery of implementation trials, their perspectives are rarely captured in the evaluation of these trials. This qualitative study aimed to capture the experiences of a small research team coordinating a large, multisite implementation trial (the Hide and Seek Project) in the Australian healthcare setting. A qualitative approach was used, whereby members of the Hide and Seek Project research team were invited to take part in semistructured focus groups led by an external facilitator. The focus group guide was developed to explore the experiences of the research team (including challenges and lessons learnt) as they moved through key study activities. Focus groups were transcribed verbatim and analysed using an inductive thematic approach. Barriers and facilitators identified within themes were deductively coded to domains of the updated Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Participants were recruited from a research organisation based in Sydney, Australia. A total of seven researcher and administering institution participants took part in four focus groups. Analysis highlighted the following themes: navigating bureaucracy, distinguishing implementation trials from clinical trials, the impact of COVID-19, balancing rigour and pragmatism in implementation trials, data access and complexity of analysis, and key learnings and future directions (subthemes: building relationships with ethics committees, communicating implementation concepts, streamlining of the implementation and research approach). Findings highlight the need for streamlining current administrative and ethical review processes, as well as procedures that allow greater flexibility for researchers to respond to challenges as they arise. Lessons learnt by the Hide and Seek Project team hold potential relevance for fellow researchers involved in coordinating implementation trials across diverse contexts.

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Concepts Keywords
Australia Australia
Covid COVID-19
Deductively Focus Groups
Future Health Services
Healthcare Health Services Research
Humans
Implementation Science
Implementation Science
Qualitative Research
QUALITATIVE RESEARCH
Research Personnel
SARS-CoV-2

Semantics

Type Source Name
disease MESH COVID-19
drug DRUGBANK Tretamine
drug DRUGBANK Coenzyme M
disease MESH Lynch syndrome
disease MESH colorectal cancers
disease IDO intervention
drug DRUGBANK Spinosad
disease IDO process
drug DRUGBANK Trestolone
drug DRUGBANK Etoperidone
disease IDO site
drug DRUGBANK Methionine
drug DRUGBANK Etodolac
disease MESH confusion
disease MESH tics
drug DRUGBANK Isoxaflutole
pathway REACTOME Translation
disease IDO quality
pathway KEGG Colorectal cancer
disease MESH cancers
disease MESH familial adenomatous polyposis
drug DRUGBANK Acetylsalicylic acid
disease IDO country
disease MESH practice gaps
disease MESH intellectual disability
drug DRUGBANK Tropicamide

Original Article

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