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Implementation Science at UW

Keywords: Nicole A. Errett

✪ An integrative review of implementation science in climate change and health adaptation research

Authors:

Amber S Khan, Clare C McCarthy, Stefan Wheat, Kenneth Sherr, Jeremy J Hess & Nicole A Errett

University of Washington affiliated authors are displayed in bold.

✪ Open Access

Published: April 2026

Read the full text in the open access Journal of Climate Change and Health

Abstract:

Introduction

As climate change accelerates, reducing associated health risks requires uptake of effective approaches to adaptation at scale. However, translating climate change and health adaptation (CCHA) interventions into practice remains a persistent challenge for both researchers and practitioners. Implementation science provides tools to study methods and strategies that facilitate the adoption and sustainability of interventions into practice, but its application in the CCHA domain has not yet been examined.

Methods

In response, this integrative literature review identifies how implementation science has been applied to assess determinants, strategies, and outcomes of CCHA interventions, and to evaluate gaps, strengths, and limitations in the existing literature. Nineteen articles were identified through systematic searches of four databases and expert recommendations. Discrete data domains, defined a priori, were extracted and synthesized across articles.

Results

Findings demonstrated wide variability in the use of implementation frameworks, the identification and assessment of implementation strategies and outcomes, and the overall conceptualization of CCHA interventions. Findings highlight a critical opportunity to leverage implementation science as a tool to strengthen the assessment and uptake of CCHA efforts in public health practice.

Conclusion

In the face of the accelerating climate crisis, there is an urgent need for implementation science and climate change and health experts to work together to overcome conceptual and operational challenges to the use of implementation science frameworks and methods to advance the field.

Highlights
  • The formal use of implementation science in published CCHA research is limited.
  • Opportunities exist to adapt implementation science frameworks to CCHA research.
  • Investing in these opportunities can improve uptake of CCHA interventions.

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**This abstract is posted with permission under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License**

✪ Pilot randomized controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of a heat risk reduction decision support platform and barriers and facilitators of its implementation

Authors:

Jeremy Hess, Marci Burden, Tania M. Busch Isaksen, Kristie L. Ebi, Nicole A. Errett, Chelsea Gridley-Smith, C. Bradley Kramer, Clare McCarthy, Oma McLaughlin, Resham Patel, Anna Reed, Mary Hannah Smith, Stefan Wheat & Kenneth Sherr

University of Washington affiliated authors are displayed in bold.

✪ Open Access

Published: November 2025

Read the full text in the open access journal Implementation Science Communications

Abstract:

Background

Climate-sensitive hazards such as extreme heat are increasing in frequency and severity. Protecting population health requires hazard-specific risk assessment, selection of potential interventions, and support for intervention implementation. This process typically takes several years, constraining health adaptation to climate-sensitive hazards. The investigators have developed an online decision support platform, CHaRT, that links evidence-based, location-specific heat-health risk assessment with transparent analyses of risk drivers and evidence-based risk reduction guidance for use in local health departments (LHDs). CHaRT’s effectiveness in supporting delivery of effective health interventions has not been evaluated.

Methods

LHDs are the organizational unit being studied. In this pilot randomized controlled trial, LHDs from the conterminous US will be recruited in coordination with the National Association of City and County Health Officials (NACCHO). Thirty LHDs will be selected at random from interested participants. Fifteen will be randomized to receive the intervention, a facilitated engagement with CHaRT, and 15 will receive the control, a package with information on heat vulnerability assessment and potential interventions. Intervention and control packages will be delivered simultaneously. Facilitated engagement will include an introduction to the tool, user exploration of the tool, elective inclusion of site-specific data into the tool, follow-up sessions to address additional questions, and discussion with investigators regarding planning and implementation needs. Pre- and post-study surveys will be used to assess CHaRT’s effectiveness using the RE-AIM (Reach, Effectiveness, Acceptability, Implementation, Maintenance) framework and by comparing each site’s intentions to implement specific interventions. After the trial, barriers and facilitators of the CHaRT platform’s implementation will be assessed through key informant interviews with the intervention group and analyzed using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR).

Discussion

This study will allow investigators to evaluate the public health impact of a decision support platform and to identify barriers and facilitators of its implementation. The results will guide future research into strategies for increasing public health adaptation to climate change at the speed and breadth required.

**This abstract is posted with permission under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License**