Study protocol
Translating research into practice in Leeds and Bradford (TRiPLaB): a protocol for a programme of research
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* Corresponding author: Paul M Wilson pmw7@york.ac.uk
1 Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, YO10 5DD UK
2 Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, UK
3 NHS Bradford and Airedale, Douglas Mill, Bradford, BD5 7JR, UK
4 Health Services Management Centre, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2RT, UK
Implementation Science 2010, 5:37 doi:10.1186/1748-5908-5-37
Published: 21 May 2010Abstract
Background
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) has funded nine Collaborations for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRCs). Each CLAHRC is a partnership between higher education institutions (HEIs) and the NHS in nine UK regional health economies. The CLAHRC for Leeds, York, and Bradford comprises two 'research themes' and three 'implementation themes.' One of these implementation themes is Translating Research into Practice in Leeds and Bradford (TRiPLaB). TRiPLaB aims to develop, implement, and evaluate methods for inducing and sustaining the uptake of research knowledge into practice in order to improve the quality of health services for the people of Leeds and Bradford.
Methods
TRiPLaB is built around a three-stage, sequential, approach using separate, longitudinal case studies conducted with collaborating NHS organisations, TRiPLaB will select robust innovations to implement, conduct a theory-informed exploration of the local context using a variety of data collection and analytic methods, and synthesise the information collected to identify the key factors influencing the uptake and adoption of targeted innovations. This synthesis will inform the development of tailored, multifaceted, interventions designed to increase the translation of research findings into practice. Mixed research methods, including time series analysis, quasi-experimental comparison, and qualitative process evaluation, will be used to evaluate the impact of the implementation strategies deployed.
Conclusion
TRiPLaB is a theory-informed, systematic, mixed methods approach to developing and evaluating tailored implementation strategies aimed at increasing the translation of research-based findings into practice in one UK health economy. Through active collaboration with its local NHS, TRiPLaB aims to improve the quality of health services for the people of Leeds and Bradford and to contribute to research knowledge regarding the interaction between context and adoption behaviour in health services.