BACKGROUND: The persistence of a large quality gap between what we know about how to produce high quality clinical care and what the
public receives has prompted interest in developing more effective methods to get evidence into practice. Implementation research
aims to supply such methods.
PURPOSE: This article proposes a set of recommendations aimed at establishing a common understanding of what implementation research
is, and how to foster its development.
METHODS: We developed the recommendations in the context of a translation research conference hosted by the VA for VA and non-VA health
services researchers.
IMPACTS: Health care organizations, journals, researchers and academic institutions can use these recommendations to advance the field
of implementation science and thus increase the impact of clinical and health services research on the health and health care
of the public.
Key words health services research - quality of care - implementation - organizational change - clinical practice
The authors have no conflict of interest to declare for this article.