Implementation Science
How do we ensure important research is put into practice quickly and effectively? We need to look at how practitioners work and what they need, to make it easy for them to adopt new practices.
We need to look at ways we can adapt and scale new information so that more practitioners can access it in whichever way best works for them. The easier the implementation, the better the practice, and the greater the health of all Australians.
As healthcare systems continue to work under increasingly dynamic and resource-constrained conditions, evidence-based strategies are essential in order to ensure that research investments maximise healthcare value and improve public health. Implementation science plays a critical role in understanding how to support the uptake of evidence into routine clinical practice.
Our Vision
Our Vision
Our vision is to be a driving force in supporting the application of proven strategies for translating evidence into clinical practice. We aim to provide comprehensive education in implementation science research methods and lead transformative, multidisciplinary implementation research collaborations through SPHERE’s Nursing & Midwifery Implementation Science Academy (‘The Academy’).
Our Focus
Our Focus
The Implementation Science Platform has three priority areas with the aims of each outlined below:
- Engagement
- Research and Policy
- Education
Engagement
- Establishment and support to SPHERE’s Nursing & Midwifery Implementation Science Academy. The aim of the Academy is to lead collaborative multidisciplinary, multi-site implementation science research and to support the Clinical Themes in their implementation research initiatives
- Strengthening implementation science research expertise across SPHERE.
- Enhance research training and mentorship opportunities for early career nursing and midwifery implementation scientists.
Research and Policy
- Leadership of SPHERE’s Clinical Registry Study
- Establishment of the 2020 Implementation Science Translational Seed Grant Scheme
- Support Clinical Themes with high quality implementation science advice and collaboration in evidence-translation research
Education
- Support capacity development and educational activities in implementation science research
- Provide platform to support clinicians in gaining implementation science research capabilities and skills
- Host annual Implementation Science workshop
- The Knowledge Translation component of our platform has developed a list of useful knowledge translation and implementation science educational resources
The Agency for Clinical Innovation (ACI) is the leading agency for clinical innovation in New South Wales. The ACI’s role includes supporting the implementation of new and innovative practices in healthcare stemming from evidence-based practice. Specific ACI innovations include the evaluation of evidence and translation into practice.
Our Projects
Our Projects
Understanding Reception of Care Technology for Healthy Ageing at Home
This project, funded by SPHERE under its 2023 Big Ideas grant program, aims to find out more about what everyday ageing people think about the idea of technology (such as sensors and robots) being installed in their homes to support their ageing in place.
The Nursing and Midwifery Implementation Science Academy: Early Career Researcher (ECR) Group.
Led by Nicola Straiton (Research Fellow, SPHERE Implementation Science Platform) and Dr Helen Goldsmith (Research Development Manager, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network), the Academy’s early-career researcher group seeks to strengthen connections between clinically based doctoral-level nurses and midwives and their academic counterparts, fostering a culture of collaborative research. The ECR group has a clear vision to promote the conduct of collaborative research projects across multiple sites within the SPHERE network and beyond.
ACCELERATE Plus
This successfully funded multi-site trial, is being conducted across eight hospitals and 24 wards in New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria. This stepped-wedge cluster randomised trial includes a cost benefit analysis and process evaluation of an intervention encompassing nursing core physical assessment, patient-centered bedside handover, and improved multidisciplinary communication. The recently published protocol can be accessed here.
Our Team
Our Team
Platform Lead: Associate Professor Natalie Taylor
Implementation Science Collaborative Lead: Associate Professor Natalie Taylor
Nursing and Midwifery Implementation Science Academy Lead: Professor Sandy Middleton
For more information on our current and developing work, contact Research Support Officer Natalie Walsh.
