Open Access Archives - Page 4 of 35 - Implementation Science at UW

✪ Implementing Social Media Strategies in Community-Partnered HIV Research: Practical Considerations From 3 Ongoing Studies

Abstract:

Background

In recent years, social media has emerged as a pivotal tool in implementation science efforts to address the HIV epidemic. Engaging community partners is essential to ensure the successful and equitable implementation of social media strategies. There is a notable lack of scholarship addressing the operational considerations for studies using social media strategies in community-partnered HIV research. This article seeks to bridge this gap by consolidating field notes and practical considerations derived from 3 ongoing NIH-supported studies focused on Ending the HIV Epidemic in the United States.

Objective

This article aims to inform the design, planning, and implementation of operationally effective community-partnered social media strategies in HIV research, ultimately contributing to enhancements in HIV practice and improved outcomes across the HIV prevention and care continua.

Methods

Supported by the University of California, Los Angeles Rapid, Rigorous, Relevant (3R) Implementation Science Hub, the 3 Ending the HIV Epidemic projects convened to form the community-partnered social media campaigns working group. The working group used the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research to help identify and organize key barriers and facilitators of relevance to implementation of the projects’ social media strategies. Given the high degree of interrelatedness across reported factors, the working group thematically synthesized the content into 5 practical considerations to inform use of community-partnered social media strategies in HIV research.

Results

The practical considerations identified by the community-partnered social media campaigns working group include the following: (1) the power and pitfalls of social media platforms (ie, opportunities and challenges inherent to social media platforms that may affect use of social media strategies in HIV research), (2) messengers and messages matter (ie, ensuring the appropriateness, acceptability, and quality of social media messengers and content), (3) the significance of the sociopolitical environment (ie, characterizing the sociopolitical environment surrounding HIV and its potential impact on implementing social media strategies to reach priority populations), (4) investing in academic-community partnerships (ie, cultivating positive and productive academic-community partnerships to support implementation of social media strategies in HIV research), and (5) the alignment of the institutional environment and research approach (ie, assessing and working to address features of institutional environments that may impact implementation of social media strategies in community-partnered HIV research).

Conclusion

As use of social media in HIV research and practice continues to grow, the practical considerations presented in this paper can help research teams anticipate factors that may impact implementation of community-partnered social media strategies and take early action to mitigate potential challenges. By understanding and addressing the unique challenges and opportunities of social media in community-partnered HIV research, we can leverage these platforms to accelerate progress toward ending the HIV epidemic.

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✪ Improving fever management of hospitalized children with cancer: barriers, facilitators, and proposed interventions from healthcare providers in Kenya

Abstract:

Children with cancer in lower-middle-income countries (LMICs) are at increased risk of dying from infections. Prompt treatment of fever episodes improves outcomes, yet poorly described challenges impair management. This qualitative study explored healthcare provider perspectives on barriers to and facilitators of inpatient fever management in children with cancer at a public tertiary referral children’s hospital in Kenya. Healthcare providers involved in fever management were recruited. Semi-structured interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and entered into NVivo software. Coding was informed by a theoretical fever framework and the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Thematic analysis and mind mapping identified recurrent themes and subthemes. Strategies were mapped to identified barriers. The sixteen participants included nurses (n = 2), clinicians (n = 6), pharmacists (n = 2), phlebotomists (n = 2), and microbiology laboratory staff (n = 4). We identified three overarching themes: empowerment of healthcare providers and caregivers, the importance of timely management, and teamwork/human resource availability. Healthcare provider attributes served as facilitators: motivation to improve care, eagerness to learn, willingness to change practice, and need for treatment guidance. Factors within the hospital system were barriers, with subthemes including poor communication between cadres, delays in laboratory results, and staffing shortages. Participants suggested knowledge sharing, a treatment guideline, task shifting, and hiring additional healthcare providers as potential interventions. Managing fever episodes in children with cancer is complex, requiring multiple cadres of healthcare providers and caregiver participation. The proposed interventions may overcome barriers, but future studies are needed to assess the effectiveness of these strategies in improving fever management.

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✪ Up-front alternative donor HCT in severe aplastic anemia: gaps and opportunities to translate evidence into practice

Abstract:

Severe aplastic anemia (SAA) is a rare and life-threatening bone marrow failure disorder. Immunosuppressive therapy (IST) with antithymocyte globulin and cyclosporine has long been a frontline treatment option in SAA; however, its limited durability and risk of long-term complications such as secondary malignancies remain a drawback in this treatment modality. Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is a potentially curative option with significantly improved outcomes over the long term, particularly with HLA-matched related donors. However, the use of alternative donors, such as haploidentical, mismatched, or matched unrelated donors, has previously been limited due to increased transplant-related morbidity, particularly graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). HCTs have therefore been limited to young recipients and those with HLA-matched related donors, creating significant disparity for older adults and those who lack matched donor options. Nevertheless, more recent advances in HCT, such as posttransplant cyclophosphamide for GVHD prophylaxis, have led to improved outcomes of HCT with alternative donors; however, alternative donor HCT remains underused as up-front therapy, in part because of limited multicenter trial data. This review discusses current SAA treatment approaches, including both IST and HCT, and highlights remaining gaps. It also discusses how ongoing clinical trials such as CureAA and TransIT could help address these gaps. Furthermore, we discuss the importance of stakeholder engagement and implementation science in the integration of research-based evidence into clinical practice. Bridging these gaps is necessary for achieving equitable access for patients historically excluded from frontline HCT, including older adults and racially or ethnically diverse populations.

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✪ Evaluating the effectiveness of a One-Stop PrEP Care model to enhance HIV prevention: a protocol for a cluster-randomised trial in Kisumu County, Kenya

Abstract:

Introduction

Oral HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is a highly effective biomedical intervention for HIV prevention, but its access and utilisation are challenging, especially in high-burden settings such as Kenya. For potential PrEP users, long delays and repeated consultations with several providers are obstacles to both PrEP uptake and continuation. The One-Stop PrEP Care project aims to promote the use of PrEP among clients in the health system and enhance client satisfaction by reducing the waiting time.

Methods and analysis

We are conducting a 1:1 cluster-randomised trial to evaluate whether One-Stop PrEP Care achieves equivalent or better PrEP outcomes compared with the standard of care model in 12 high-volume HIV clinics in Kisumu County, Kenya. In the One-Stop model, all core PrEP components, including HIV risk evaluation, HIV testing and PrEP dispensing, are provided by one provider in a single consultation room. Programme data from ≥2400 new PrEP clients will be abstracted for 12 months each to obtain primary endpoints of PrEP initiation and continuation. Adherence will be assessed via blood drug level testing. A nested cohort of up to 300 PrEP clients will be enrolled and followed every 3 months to provide in-depth data on individual HIV prevention behaviour, risk perception and how they align PrEP use with perceived risk. We will also evaluate programme costs.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval was obtained from the University of Washington Institutional Review Board (IRB) on 8 July 2022 (IRB ID: STUDY00015873) and the Kenya Medical Research Institute Scientific and Ethics Review Unit (SERU) with a letter dated 4 May 2023 (Ref: 4697). Project findings will be shared with stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health, County health officials and participants. Results will be disseminated through manuscripts, policy briefs and health meetings.

Protocol amendments

Plans for communicating important protocol modifications include timely notifications to all study team members and training on the changes, and updates to relevant stakeholders, including the two IRBs, through protocol amendment submissions.

Protocol version V. 2.0 dated 21 May 2024.

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✪ Optimizing healthcare for blood donors at risk of transfusion-transmissible infections: pre-implementation mixed methods protocol

Abstract:

In the Peruvian Amazon, a significant proportion of replacement blood donors test reactive for HIV, HTLV-1/2, and other transfusion-transmissible infections but often receive no subsequent care. Optimizing healthcare for these individuals can mitigate adverse outcomes by enabling early diagnosis and management. Effective coordination between Blood Bank and Infectious Diseases services is essential to provide comprehensive care. To address this challenge, this study applies an Implementation Science approach to design and assess an innovation that enhances healthcare for blood donors affected by transfusion-transmissible infections. A pre-implementation mixed methods study will be conducted at two hospitals in the Peruvian Amazon, employing the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) and a systems engineering tool (mapping). The study will focus on the inner setting domain of CFIR and map the care continuum to identify contextual determinants that may influence implementation. It has three specific aims planned for the future: first, to use a convergent mixed methods approach to examine the care continuum of blood donors and the inner settings; second, to co-design an innovation through qualitative and participatory methods, integrating Blood Bank and Infectious Diseases services via the hospital information management system; and third, to evaluate the feasibility, appropriateness, and acceptability of the co-designed innovation through a pilot. Replacement blood donation and fragmented healthcare systems are common challenges in other low- and middle-income countries. The findings of this study can inform future implementation research and policy in similar settings.

Paper context

Main findings: This study will co-design and pilot an innovation to improve how blood donors at risk of transfusion-transmissible infections receive screening results, confirmatory testing, and care, by integrating Blood Bank and Infectious Diseases services through digital tools.

Added knowledge: This study employs a participatory, mixed-methods implementation science approach to systematically assess and address gaps in blood donor healthcare, providing a scalable methodology while ensuring context-specific, actionable interventions for resource-limited settings.

Global health impact for policy and action: This study will drive digital innovations in blood donor healthcare to strengthen blood safety and infectious disease control, while framing a pragmatic, adaptable approach for integrating fragmented healthcare systems in resource-limited settings.

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✪ Comparing the effectiveness of implementation strategies to improve liver and colon cancer screening for Veterans: protocol for a large cluster-randomized implementation study

Abstract:

Background

Screening for gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, specifically colorectal cancer (CRC) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is often inadequately and inequitably implemented, leading to preventable morbidity and mortality. This protocol paper describes a study designed to compare the effectiveness of external facilitation with patient navigation across hospitals in the Veterans Health Administration (VA).

Methods

Two hybrid type 3, cluster-randomized trials will compare the effectiveness of patient navigation versus external facilitation for supporting HCC and CRC screening completion. Twenty-four sites will be included in the HCC trial and 32 in the CRC trial, cluster-randomizing Veterans by their site of primary care. The primary outcome of reach of cancer screening completion will be measured after intervention and during sustainment. Multi-level implementation determinants (i.e., barriers and facilitators), preconditions, and moderators will be evaluated pre- and post-intervention, using Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR)-mapped surveys and interviews of Veteran participants and provider participants.

Discussion

Comparing findings in the two trials will allow researchers to understand how implementation barriers and strategies operate differently for a one-time screening in a relatively healthy population (CRC) vs. repeated screening in a more medically complex population (HCC).

Trial registration

This project was registered at ClinicalTrials.Gov (NCT06458998) on 6/13/24.

Contributions to the literature

This comparative effectiveness trial will compare two evidence-based implementation strategies to improve cancer screening reach.
Comparing a patient-facing to a clinician-facing approach will offer novel insights into what works and for whom.
This trial will assess mechanisms and heterogeneity of treatment effects to inform the science of implementation.

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✪ Characterizing screening champions in the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Colorectal Cancer Control Program (CRCCP)

Abstract:

Background

CDC’s Colorectal Cancer Control Program (CRCCP) aims to increase colorectal cancer (CRC) screening prevalence by implementing evidence-based interventions (EBIs) in health system clinics partnering with the program. Program champions, as one of the key program components, are expected to facilitate the implementation of EBIs and support desired changes in many ways. Given limited information about the champions in clinical systems, this study investigated champion types, roles, and sustainability within the CRCCP.

Methods

This mixed methods, cross-sectional study included a survey of 205 respondents (health system and clinic staff) representing 303 clinics and 12 qualitative interviews of CRCCP award recipients and partnering clinics. The survey assessed clinic characteristics, EBI implementation, information about program champions, and sustainability. Interview topics included champion roles, benefits, turnover, and maintenance.

Findings

Champions worked at either the health system or clinic level. Among health systems, champions were quality improvement (QI) managers (48.5%), physicians (36.4%), or high-level administrators (27.3%). In clinics, champions were physicians (37.0%), QI managers (26.1%) or medical assistants (23.9%). Champions in both health systems and clinics were most often assigned the role (45.5% and 45.7%, respectively); yet clinic champions were more likely to naturally emerge than health system champions (26.1% vs. 15.2%). Among naturally emerging champions, 64.3% experienced zero turnover, more than for assigned champions. While champions in both groups received training, more champions in health systems reported being trained than those in clinics (75.8% vs 52.2%). No significant differences in EBIs implemented were observed between those clinics with and without a champion. Zero champion turnover was associated with great or very great leadership support (68.9%), program adaptation (60.7%) and organizational capacity (54.1%). Interviews found that champions’ roles included advocating for CRC screening, providing technical assistance for EBI implementation, creating organizational policies for CRC screening, and overseeing QI. Interviewees reported a desire to address champion sustainability.

Conclusion

These findings inform the use of program champions for clinic-based public health programs. Naturally emerging champions were more stable than those assigned the role.

Contributions to the literature

Research has demonstrated that program champions can assist in the implementation of evidence-based interventions; however, there is limited understanding of the types of champions, their roles, and turnover.
These findings contribute to this gap by describing the types of program champions, their training and major roles in implementing evidence-based interventions for colorectal cancer screening.
Common roles for champions were implementers, advocates, connectors, motivators, changemakers, data wranglers, educators, and sustainability resource.

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✪ High acceptability, feasibility and sustainability of a direct-to-pharmacy differentiated PrEP delivery model in public health HIV clinics in Kenya: perspectives of PrEP clients and healthcare providers

Abstract:

Introduction

High client opportunity costs and a burdened healthcare system limit oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) delivery in Kenyan public HIV clinics. We conducted a qualitative study among PrEP clients and providers to understand the acceptability, feasibility and willingness to implement a client-centred, differentiated direct-to-pharmacy (DTP) PrEP refill visits intervention aimed at improving the efficiency of PrEP implementation in real-world clinics.

Methods

From March 2021 to March 2022, we conducted in-depth interviews with clients and healthcare providers participating in an individual facility pharmacy-based PrEP delivery model for PrEP refills among clients in the continuation phase at two public HIV clinics in central Kenya. The core components of the DTP model included directed-to-PrEP pharmacy refill visits conducted by facility pharmacy staff and client HIV self-testing (HIVST) while waiting for services at the pharmacy. We used semi-structured interview guides informed by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). We analysed data using thematic content analysis and organised findings by CFIR constructs.

Results

We interviewed 20 PrEP clients and 20 healthcare providers. PrEP clients included 15 females and had a median age of 39 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 33–48). Providers included 13 females, had a median age of 32 years (IQR: 30–41), and included 10 HIV counsellors, 5 pharmacy and 3 clinical providers. Both providers and clients reported high satisfaction with DTP PrEP refill visits derived from improved clinic flow and quality of service. Among clients, shorter waiting times and less movement between multiple clinic rooms reduced delays, improved privacy and reduced stigma associated with visiting HIV clinics. Furthermore, shorter waiting times and infrequent clinic visits reduced loss of working hours and income among clients, motivating PrEP continuation. Providers reported improved clinic flow, reduced work burden among non-pharmacy providers, improved knowledge and ease of implementing DTP refill visits. However, providers expressed concerns about the potential loss of roles among HIV counsellors and the shifting of workload burden to pharmacy providers.

Conclusions

Differentiated DTP refill visits with HIVST were highly acceptable and feasible among PrEP clients and providers. Context-specific modifications and scale-up of the intervention could improve the efficiency of PrEP delivery within public HIV clinics in Kenya and similar settings.

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✪ Community/patient group champion team retrospective look at engage for equity PLUS: Results from a post-intervention champion team focus group

Abstract:

Community/patient voice has long been stifled in favor of the priorities of powerful health organizations that set the agenda for institutional practices and policies shaping health equity research. Academic Health Centers (AHC) and Clinical Translational Science Centers (CTSC) promote missions that are often unaligned with the realities of community and patient experiences when interacting with researchers and representatives from these institutions. Implementation science has increasingly adopted collaborative and participatory approaches to the design and implementation of health interventions co-created with community/patient group members as equal participants within community-academic partnerships. Community-based participatory research/community-engaged research are widely recognized as approaches to health intervention research that offers the potential for community-patient voice to be heard when the principles of authentic participatory research are adhered to throughout all aspects of the project. For AHC’s and CTSC’s to be fully engaged, the populations they serve must have access to institutional leadership and influence over decision-making about the organizational resources allocated to community/patient groups beyond efforts to cultivate a positive public image. The E2 community/patient champion team focus groups provide unique perspectives on how equitable institutional transformation can be accomplished in a retrospective assessment of the E2 PLUS Intervention.

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✪ Enhancing provider adoption of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) through implementation science: insights from two international workshops

Abstract:

Background

Although the use of patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) in practice is increasing, successful implementation is contingent on engaging healthcare providers (HCPs). Using Implementation Science (IS), we present the content of two workshops hosted at the International Society for Quality-of-Life annual conferences for individuals seeking to implement PROMs collection and use in their settings. Our goals were to provide workshop participants with knowledge, tools, and resources to prepare HCPs for PROM adoption and to demonstrate tailored strategies to meet context-specific needs.

Methods

An interdisciplinary team with diverse expertise in PROMs implementation delivered two workshops guided by the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation – Behavior (COM-B) model and the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF). Using dotmocracy, participants were asked to consider, for their local context, the factors most important for changing HCPs’ behaviors to adopt PROMs in daily practice.

Results

The workshops incorporated IS theories, models, and frameworks (TMFs) to identify barriers faced by HCPs, support behavior change, and apply tailored theory-informed implementation strategies to prepare HCPs for PROM integration and evaluate adoption success. The factors rated the most important by workshop participants (n = 53) were woven into the discussions to illustrate the most common barriers encountered by HCPs adopting PROMs. Presenters drew on real-world practice and research experiences to identify promising implementation strategies, including education, training, behavioral modeling, persuasion, environmental restructuring, enablement, and audit and feedback to increase the capability, opportunity, and motivation of HCPs.

Conclusion

Given the increasing evidence base supporting the role of PROMs in patient-centered care, it is imperative to understand the mechanisms and best practices for increasing provider adoption of PROMs. This work offers a roadmap for understanding determinants more important to HCPs and systematically selecting theory-informed implementation strategies that may increase the likelihood of HCP adoption of PROMs. Offering tailored HCP training/education programs and implementation strategies can prepare HCPs for timely and effective PROM implementation.

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Authors:

✪ Open Access

Read the full text in the open access journal JMIR Public Health Surveillance

Abstract:

Background

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Authors:

✪ Open Access

Read the full text in the open access journal Frontiers in Oncology

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✪ Open Access

Read the full text in the open access journal Blood Advances

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Authors:

✪ Open Access

Read the full text in the open access journal BMJ Open

Abstract:

Introduction

Methods and analysis

Ethics and dissemination

Protocol amendments

Authors:

✪ Open Access

Read the full text in the open access journal Global Health Action

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Paper context

Authors:

✪ Open Access

Read the full text in the open access journal Implementation Science

Abstract:

Background

Methods

Discussion

Trial registration

Contributions to the literature

Authors:

✪ Open Access

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

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Background

Methods

Findings

Conclusion

Contributions to the literature

Authors:

✪ Open Access

Read the full text in the open access journal Journal of the International AIDS Society

Abstract:

Introduction

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Authors:

✪ Open Access

Read the full text in the open access journal Journal of Clinical and Translational Science

Abstract:

Authors:

✪ Open Access

Read the full text in the open access journal Journal of Patient Reported Outcomes

Abstract:

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion