Communication strategies to facilitate the implementation of new clinical practices: a qualitative study of community mental health therapists

Abstract

Lay Summary There has been a great deal of attention recently to the study of implementation, or how something (e.g., a new clinical practice or initiative) is actually put into effect. Many studies have found a number of barriers to and facilitators of the implementation process. But despite this increased attention, the field of implementation science may not have paid enough attention to the role of communication. Although communication is generally acknowledged as important, precisely how it impacts implementation—and, importantly, the ways it might be improved—is typically unexplored. This study conducted focus groups with mental health therapists in 12 clinics which were about to implement a new clinical practice: measurement-based care for depressed adults receiving psychotherapy. What these therapists shared about their perspectives and experiences suggest that there are at least five ways to facilitate effective communication when introducing a new clinical practice: communicating a clear rationale for the new practice, providing necessary procedural knowledge, using multiple methods to communicate about the change, giving sufficient lead time to prepare for the change, and providing the opportunity for bidirectional engagement.