Behavioral Health QUERI Implementation Facilitation Training Hub

NIH RePORTER · VA · I50 · · view on reporter.nih.gov ↗

Abstract

Background/Overview: This proposal requests full, 3-year funding for the Behavioral Health (BH) QUERI Implementation Facilitation Training Hub. Implementation facilitation (IF) is a multifaceted strategy involving interactive problem-solving and support that occurs in a context of a recognized need for improvement and supportive interpersonal relationships. IF bundles an integrated set of activities to support uptake of effective practices, including but not limited to: engaging stakeholders, identifying champions, action planning, staff training, problem-solving, providing technical support, audit/feedback and marketing. An increasing volume of literature supports IF as an evidence-based strategy for implementing evidence-based practices (EBPs) and other clinical innovations. Systematic reviews have found that primary care practices were almost 3 times more likely to adopt evidence-based guidelines through use of facilitation; and multiple studies inside and outside VA show IF to be an effective strategy for implementing new clinical programs/practices. As the evidence for effectiveness of IF grows, so has the demand for IF training from VA operations leaders and research staff. Guided by the integrated–Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (i-PARIHS) framework, BH QUERI leaders have developed substantial experience and expertise in applying and testing the impact of IF strategies to support implementation of EBPs and other clinical innovations. Over the past 8+ years, we have systematically transferred this knowledge to VACO leaders, frontline clinical managers, other QUERI/VA researchers, and non-VA researchers through development and ongoing refinement of our IF Training Program. To date, this work has been done as an ‘add-on’ to project-specific work in our QUERI programs, which we have accommodated despite limited resources because we know first-hand the value and impact of IF. Training Hub funding will allow us to expand and sustain our IF Training Program, affording us the opportunity to enhance our efforts to increase training capacity and efficiency to meet ever-increasing demand. Specific Aims and Methods: 1) Provide Implementation Facilitation (IF) training to VA and non-VA trainees to improve knowledge of and confidence in using IF to implement EBPs and other clinical innovations. Components of the 2-day in-person IF Training Program include preparatory work, didactic sessions, instruction on key IF roles/activities, interactive role-plays and group exercises. Post-training mentoring and consultation is provided to trainees, and our IF Learning Collaborative is also available to trainees for ongoing learning. 2) Conduct independent evaluation to assess impact on trainee’s IF knowledge/skills and identify training strategies/resources that work well and areas for improvement. Fundamental to our IF Training Program is an ongoing independent evaluation conducted by our South Central MIRECC partners, with...

Key facts

NIH application ID
10181064
Project number
5I50HX002986-02
Recipient
CENTRAL ARKANSAS VETERANS HLTHCARE SYS
Principal Investigator
JoAnn E Kirchner
Activity code
I50
Funding institute
VA
Fiscal year
2021
Award amount
Award type
5
Project period
2019-04-01 → 2022-03-31