Implementation research: making better use of evidence to improve healthcare
Charlotte A Sharp, Laura Swaithes, Benjamin Ellis, Krysia Dziedzic, Nicola Walsh
It is estimated that 85% of healthcare research is ‘wasted’, avoidably, due to inadequacies in research design, conduct and dissemination [1]. Such inadequacies in implementing healthcare research lead to health, economic and opportunity costs. A major review investigating the use of healthcare research identified two ‘gaps’ in research translation, the first being between bench and bedside and the second relating to ‘implementing … products and approaches into clinical practice’ [2]. So, whilst we know there is a problem in this area, what can the growing field of research into implementation do to help healthcare professionals, patients and carers improve outcomes and quality of care?