# An Evidence-Based Leadership Training Intervention to Accelerate Integration of Behavioral Health and Primary Care

> **NIH AHRQ K01** · RUTGERS BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES · 2024 · $154,273

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
BACKGROUND: Integrated behavioral health (IBH) holds great promise for improving care quality and
outcomes for patients with co-occurring mental and physical health conditions by embedding mental health and
substance use treatment services into primary care settings. Despite over two decades of effort, however,
there still lacks widespread IBH implementation due to insufficient leadership skills to overcome organizational,
attitudinal, and financial challenges. This study develops and tests an evidence-based IBH intervention that
incorporates leadership concepts to prepare primary care teams to overcome IBH challenges and lead IBH
implementation initiatives.
SPECIFIC AIMS: Aim 1 is to identify IBH implementation challenges, strategies, and leadership skills needed
to successfully implement IBH. Aim 2 is to develop an intervention that uses IBH implementation strategies and
leadership training to accelerate IBH into primary care settings. Aim 3 is to conduct a preliminary effectiveness,
feasibility, and acceptability pilot by implementing and evaluating the intervention in practice settings.
METHODS: I use sequential, complementarity mixed methods and draw upon a conceptual model that blends
the implementation science EPIS (Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, and Sustainment) framework with
AHRQ’s Integration Framework. Aim 1 uses depth interviews with nationally-renowned IBH stakeholders to
develop an inventory of IBH challenges, strategies, and leadership skills. Aim 2 uses a 4-round modified Delphi
approach with IBH stakeholders to develop the intervention. Aim 3 uses the New Jersey Primary Care
Research Network to recruit 5-10 primary care practices serving health disparity populations. The intervention
is delivered to all practice members using practice facilitation, and I will conduct a series of assessment to
determine the preliminary effectiveness, feasibility, and acceptability of the intervention in improving leadership
skills to address IBH challenges (intermediary outcome) and integrated care processes (primary outcome).
IMPACT: This study is novel because it draws upon national IBH experts to develop an intervention that
identifies and consolidates IBH strategies and leadership skills that have been effective with IBH
implementation in real-world settings. Second, this study produces a systematically-developed intervention that
pairs IBH implementation challenges with specific leadership skills for overcoming them, refined and prioritized
for action. Third, this is the first study to map the AHRQ Integration Framework to an implementation science
framework. Resulting data informs future refining and testing of the intervention in additional clinical settings.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10886944
- **Project number:** 1K01HS029522-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** RUTGERS BIOMEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Ann M Nguyen
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** AHRQ
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $154,273
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-04-01 → 2029-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10886944

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10886944, An Evidence-Based Leadership Training Intervention to Accelerate Integration of Behavioral Health and Primary Care (1K01HS029522-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10886944. Licensed CC0.

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