Abstract
Abstract
Background
Despite wide recognition that clinical care should be informed by the best available evidence, this does not always occur. Despite a myriad of theories, models and frameworks to promote evidence-based population health, there is still a long way to go, particularly in maternity care. The aim of this study is to appraise the scientific study of methods to promote the systematic uptake of evidence-based interventions in maternity care. This is achieved by clarifying if and how implementation science theories, models, and frameworks are used.
Methods
To map relevant literature, a scoping review was conducted of articles published between January 2005 and December 2019, guided by Peters and colleagues’ (2015) approach. Specifically, the following academic databases were systematically searched to identify publications that presented findings on implementation science or the implementation process (rather than just the intervention effect): Business Source Complete; CINAHL Plus with Full Text; Health Business Elite; Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition; Medline; PsycARTICLES; PsycINFO; and PubMed. Information about each study was extracted using a purposely designed data extraction form.
Results
Of the 1181 publications identified, 158 were included in this review. Most of these reported on factors that enabled implementation, including knowledge, training, service provider motivation, effective multilevel coordination, leadership and effective communication—yet there was limited expressed use of a theory, model or framework to guide implementation. Of the 158 publications, 144 solely reported on factors that helped and/or hindered implementation, while only 14 reported the use of a theory, model and/or framework. When a theory, model or framework was used, it typically guided data analysis or, to a lesser extent, the development of data collection tools—rather than for instance, the design of the study.
Conclusion
Given that models and frameworks can help to describe phenomenon, and theories can help to both describe and explain it, evidence-based maternity care might be promoted via the greater expressed use of these to ultimately inform implementation science. Specifically, advancing evidence-based maternity care, worldwide, will require the academic community to make greater explicit and judicious use of theories, models, and frameworks.
Registration
Registered with the Joanna Briggs Institute (registration number not provided).
Funder
Sydney Partnership for Health, Education, Research and Enterprise (SPHERE) Maternal, Newborn and Women’s Clinical Academic Group
Western Sydney University
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Subject
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health,Health Informatics,Health Policy,General Medicine
Reference212 articles.
1. Norton WE, Chambers DA. Commentary: unpacking the complexities of deimplementing inappropriate health interventions. Implementation Sci. 2020;15(2):1–7.
2. Penno LN, Davies B, Graham ID, Backman C, MacDonald I, Bain J, et al. Identifying relevant concepts and factors for the sustainability of evidence-based practices within acute care contexts: A systematic review and theory analysis of selected sustainability frameworks. Implementation Sci. 2019;14(108):1–16.
3. Braithwaite J, Churruca K, Long J, Ellis L, Herkes J. When complexity science meets implementation science: A theoretical and empirical analysis of systems change. BMC Med. 2018;16(63):1–14.
4. Curtis K, Fry M, Shaban RZ, Considine J. Translating research findings to clinical nursing practice. J Clin Nurs. 2017;26(5-6):862–72.
5. Kitson A, Brook A, Harvey G, Jordan Z, Marshall R, O'Shea R, et al. Using complexity and network concepts to inform healthcare knowledge translation. Int J Health Policy Manage. 2017;7:231–43.