Collaborative action around implementation in Collaborations for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care: towards a programme theory
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: In theory, greater interaction between researchers and practitioners should result in increased potential for implementation. However, we know little about whether this is the case, or what mechanisms might operate to make it happen. This paper reports findings from a study that is identifying and tracking implementation mechanisms, processes, influences and impacts in real time, over time in the Collaborations for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRCs). METHODS: This is a longitudinal, realist evaluation case study. The development of the conceptual framework and initial hypotheses involved literature reviewing and stakeholder consultation. Primary data were collected through interviews, observations and documents within three CLAHRCs, and analysed thematically against the framework and hypotheses. RESULTS: The first round of data collection shows that the mechanisms of collaborative action, relationship building, engagement, motivation, knowledge exchange and learning are important to the processes and outcomes of CLAHRCs' activity, including their capacity for implementation. These mechanisms operated in different contexts such as competing agendas, availability of resources and the CLAHRCs' brand. Contexts and mechanisms result in different impact, including the CLAHRCs' approach to implementation, quality of collaboration, commitment and ownership, and degree of sharing and managing knowledge. CONCLUSION: Emerging features of a middle range theory of implementation within collaboration include alignment in organizational structures and cognitive processes, history of partnerships, responsiveness and resilience in rapidly changing contexts. CLARHCs' potential to mobilize knowledge may be further realized by how they develop insights into their function as collaborative entities.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
The analysis utilised a similar approach to Schierhout et al. and Rycroft-Malone et al.
“Utilising a similar approach to those of Schierhout et al. 152 and Rycroft-Malone et al., 153 the analysis involved the following steps:”
From ReseArch with Patient and Public invOlvement: a RealisT evaluation – the RAPPORT study (2015) · cites this paper as [153]
Cites
Qualitative Data Analysis: An Expanded Sourcebook
(1994) · Journal of Environmental Psychology · doi:10.1016/s0272-4944(05)80231-2 · Cited by 48,420 · see citing works
Nudge: improving decisions about health, wealth, and happiness
(2008) · Choice Reviews Online · doi:10.5860/choice.46-0977 · Cited by 11,614 · see citing works
Diffusion of Innovations in Service Organizations: Systematic Review and Recommendations
GREENHALGH, T., ROBERT, G., MACFARLANE, F., BATE, P., & KYRIAKIDOU, O. (2004) · The Milbank Quarterly · doi:10.1111/j.0887-378x.2004.00325.x · Cited by 7,448 · see citing works
(2014) · SAGE Publications Ltd eBooks · doi:10.4135/9781446294406.n148 · Cited by 7,272 · see citing works
Męcfal, S. (2012) · University of Lodz Repository (University of Łódź) · Cited by 6,617 · see citing works
Neufeld, A., & Ryan, A. G. (1988) · Canadian Journal of Program Evaluation · doi:10.3138/cjpe.3.006 · Cited by 5,906 · see citing works
Organizations: Rational, Natural, and Open Systems
Braito, R., & Scott, W. R. (1988) · Teaching Sociology · doi:10.2307/1318172 · Cited by 5,199 · see citing works
Cultivating Communities of Practice: A Guide to Managing Knowledge
Wenger, É., & Snyder, W. M. (2002) · CERN Document Server (European Organization for Nuclear Research) · Cited by 4,769 · see citing works
Lost in knowledge translation: Time for a map?
Graham, I. D., Logan, J., Harrison, M. B., Straus, S. E., Tetroe, J., Caswell, W., & Robinson, N. (2006) · Journal of Continuing Education in the Health Professions · doi:10.1002/chp.47 · Cited by 4,705 · see citing works
Self-citationCultivating Communities of Practice: A Guide to Managing Knowledge
Cuddy, C. (2002) · The Bottom Line Managing Library Finances · doi:10.1108/bl.2002.17015bae.001 · Cited by 3,935 · see citing works
Organization Theory and Design
Daft, R. L. (1983) · Cited by 3,773 · see citing works
Engaged Scholarship: A Guide for Organizational and Social Research
van de Ven, & Andrew, H. P. (2007) · Medical Entomology and Zoology · Cited by 1,932 · see citing works
de Ven, A. H. V. (2007) · doi:10.1093/oso/9780199226290.001.0001 · Cited by 1,861 · see citing works
Organizations: Rational, Natural, and Open Systems.
Beyer, J. M., & Scott, W. R. (1984) · Administrative Science Quarterly · doi:10.2307/2393090 · Cited by 1,808 · see citing works
Pawson, R. (2006) · doi:10.4135/9781849209120 · Cited by 1,791 · see citing works
CONTEXT AND ACTION IN THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE FIRM
Pettigrew, A. (1987) · Journal of Management Studies · doi:10.1111/j.1467-6486.1987.tb00467.x · Cited by 1,600 · see citing works
Walking a Tightrope: Creating Value Through Interorganizational Relationships
Barringer, B. R., & Harrison, J. S. (2000) · Journal of Management · doi:10.1016/s0149-2063(00)00046-5 · Cited by 1,363 · see citing works
Using evidenceHow research can inform public services
Nutley, S., Walter, I., & Davies, H. T. O. (2007) · Policy Press eBooks · doi:10.1332/policypress/9781861346650.001.0001 · Cited by 1,341 · see citing works
Kitson, A. L., Rycroft-Malone, J., Harvey, G., McCormack, B., Seers, K., & Titchen, A. (2008) · Implementation Science · doi:10.1186/1748-5908-3-1 · Cited by 1,314 · see citing works
Self-citationStrategic management: Concepts and cases
(1996) · Long Range Planning · doi:10.1016/s0024-6301(97)82835-x · Cited by 1,289 · see citing works
The Science of Evaluation: A Realist Manifesto
Pawson, R. (2013) · doi:10.4135/9781473913820 · Cited by 1,271 · see citing works
JAGOSH, J., MACAULAY, A. C., PLUYE, P., SALSBERG, J., BUSH, P. L., HENDERSON, J., SIRETT, E., WONG, G., CARGO, M., HERBERT, C. P., et al. (2012) · The Milbank Quarterly · doi:10.1111/j.1468-0009.2012.00665.x · Cited by 1,268 · see citing works
What counts as evidence in evidence‐based practice?
Rycroft‐Malone, J., Seers, K., Titchen, A., Harvey, G., Kitson, A. A., & McCormack, B. G. (2004) · Journal of Advanced Nursing · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2648.2004.03068.x · Cited by 960 · see citing works
Self-citationUsing evidence: How research can inform public services
Nutley, S. M., Walter, I., & Davies, H. T. O. (2007) · doi:10.2307/j.ctt9qgwt1 · Cited by 808 · see citing works
Getting evidence into practice: the meaning of `context'
McCormack, B., Kitson, A., Harvey, G., Rycroft‐Malone, J., Titchen, A., & Seers, K. (2002) · Journal of Advanced Nursing · doi:10.1046/j.1365-2648.2002.02150.x · Cited by 765 · see citing works
Self-citationGetting evidence into practice: the role and function of facilitation
Harvey, G., Loftus‐Hills, A., Rycroft‐Malone, J., Titchen, A., Kitson, A., McCormack, B., & Seers, K. (2002) · Journal of Advanced Nursing · doi:10.1046/j.1365-2648.2002.02126.x · Cited by 730 · see citing works
Self-citationIngredients for change: revisiting a conceptual framework
Rycroft-Malone, J. (2002) · Quality and Safety in Health Care · doi:10.1136/qhc.11.2.174 · Cited by 701 · see citing works
Self-citationApplying Diffusion of Innovation Theory to Intervention Development
Dearing, J. W. (2009) · Research on Social Work Practice · doi:10.1177/1049731509335569 · Cited by 567 · see citing works
Pohl, C., Rist, S., Zimmermann, A., Fry, P., Gurung, G. S., Schneider, F., Speranza, C. I., Kiteme, B., Boillat, S., Serrano, E., et al. (2010) · Science and Public Policy · doi:10.3152/030234210x496628 · Cited by 555 · see citing works
(1993) · Long Range Planning · doi:10.1016/0024-6301(93)90020-g · Cited by 554 · see citing works
An implementation research agenda
Eccles, M. P., Armstrong, D., Baker, R., Cleary, K., Davies, H., Davies, S., Glasziou, P., Ilott, I., Kinmonth, A.-L., Leng, G., et al. (2009) · Implementation Science · doi:10.1186/1748-5908-4-18 · Cited by 481 · see citing works
Self-citationDoing research that is useful for theory and practice
Lawler, E. E. (1985) · Deep Blue (University of Michigan) · Cited by 376 · see citing works
How Do You Modernize a Health Service? A Realist Evaluation of Whole‐Scale Transformation in London
Greenhalgh, T., Humphrey, C., HUGHES, J., Macfarlane, F., Butler, C., & Pawson, R. (2009) · Milbank Quarterly · doi:10.1111/j.1468-0009.2009.00562.x · Cited by 364 · see citing works
Strategic Management: Concepts and Cases
Milliken, J. (1997) · Long Range Planning · doi:10.1016/s0024-6301(97)80001-5 · Cited by 339 · see citing works
Nilsen, P., Roback, K., Broström, A., & Ellström, P.-E. (2012) · Implementation Science · doi:10.1186/1748-5908-7-53 · Cited by 284 · see citing works
TUPIN, J. P. (1977) · American Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.1176/ajp.134.8.948 · Cited by 216 · see citing works
Evidence-Based Health Care and the Implementation Gap
Dopson, S., Locock, L., Gabbay, J., Ferlie, E. B., & Fitzgerald, L. (2005) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199259014.003.0003 · Cited by 193 · see citing works
Dopson, S., & Fitzgerald, L. (2005) · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199259014.001.0001 · Cited by 161 · see citing works
Stetler, C. B., Ritchie, J. A., Rycroft‐Malone, J., Schultz, A. A., & Charns, M. P. (2009) · Implementation Science · doi:10.1186/1748-5908-4-78 · Cited by 155 · see citing works
Self-citationThe Sustainability and Spread of Organizational Change
Buchanan, D., Fitzgerald, L., & Ketley, D. (2006) · Routledge eBooks · doi:10.4324/9780203030653 · Cited by 152 · see citing works
‘Why Partnership Working Doesn't Work’
Dickinson, H., & Glasby, J. (2010) · Public Management Review · doi:10.1080/14719037.2010.488861 · Cited by 147 · see citing works
Rycroft-Malone, J., Wilkinson, J. E., Burton, C. R., Andrews, G., Ariss, S., Baker, R., Dopson, S., Graham, I., Harvey, G., Martin, G., et al. (2011) · Implementation Science · doi:10.1186/1748-5908-6-74 · Cited by 132 · see citing works
Self-citationCultures for Performance in Health Care
Mannion, R., Davies, H. T. O., & Marshall, M. (2004) · Cited by 131 · see citing works
Measuring the impact of patient and public involvement: the need for an evidence base
Staniszewska, S. H., Herron‐Marx, S., & Mockford, C. (2008) · International Journal for Quality in Health Care · doi:10.1093/intqhc/mzn044 · Cited by 100 · see citing works
Self-citationUnderstanding the reproduction of health care: towards geographies in health care work
Andrews, G. J., & Evans, J. (2008) · Progress in Human Geography · doi:10.1177/0309132508089826 · Cited by 98 · see citing works
Research Utilization: Defining the Concept
Stetler, C. B. (1985) · Journal of Nursing Scholarship · doi:10.1111/j.1547-5069.1985.tb01415.x · Cited by 88 · see citing works
An Exploration of the Roles of Nurse Managers in Evidence‐Based Practice Implementation
Wilkinson, J. E., Nutley, S., & Davies, H. T. O. (2011) · Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing · doi:10.1111/j.1741-6787.2011.00225.x · Cited by 85 · see citing works
Self-citationTheory-driven evaluation of public health programmes
Pawson, R., & Sridharan, S. (2009) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199563623.003.04 · Cited by 58 · see citing works
Introducing the Learning Practice – I. The characteristics of Learning Organizations in Primary Care
Rushmer, R. K., Kelly, D. R., Lough, M., et al. (2004) · Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice · doi:10.1111/j.1365-2753.2004.00464.x · Cited by 55 · see citing works
Killoran, A., & Kelly, M. P. (2009) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199563623.001.0001 · Cited by 40 · see citing works
The challenges of evaluating large-scale, multi-partner programmes: the case of NIHR CLAHRCs
Martin, G. P., Ward, V., Hendy, J., Rowley, E., Nancarrow, S., Heaton, J., Britten, N., Fielden, S. L., & Ariss, S. (2011) · Evidence & Policy · doi:10.1332/174426411x603470 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Aarons, G. A., Ehrhart, M. G., Farahnak, L. R., & Hurlburt, M. S. (2015) · Implementation Science · doi:10.1186/s13012-014-0192-y · Cited by 435 · see citing works
ReseArch with Patient and Public invOlvement: a RealisT evaluation – the RAPPORT study
Wilson, P., Mathie, E., Keenan, J., McNeilly, E., Goodman, C., Howe, A., Poland, F., Staniszewska, S., Kendall, S., Munday, D., et al. (2015) · Health Services and Delivery Research · doi:10.3310/hsdr03380 · Cited by 297 · see citing works
Self-citationHarvey, G., & Kitson, A. (2015) · International Journal of Health Policy and Management · doi:10.15171/ijhpm.2015.54 · Cited by 103 · see citing works
Self-citationDevelopment of the Recommended Summary Plan for eEmergency Care and Treatment (ReSPECT)
Hawkes, C. A., Fritz, Z., Deas, G., Ahmedzai, S. H., Richardson, A., Pitcher, D., Spiller, J., & Perkins, G. D. (2020) · Resuscitation · doi:10.1016/j.resuscitation.2020.01.003 · Cited by 64 · see citing works
- Authors
- Rycroft-Malone, J., Wilkinson, J., Burton, C. R., Harvey, G., McCormack, B., Graham, I., & Staniszewska, S.
- Affiliations
- Professor of Implementation Research, School of Healthcare Sciences, Bangor University, UK
- Bangor University (GB)
- University of Manchester (GB)
- University of Ulster (GB)
- Ottawa Hospital Research Institute (CA)
- University of Warwick (GB)
- Venue
- Journal of Health Services Research & Policy
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2013-10
- Volume
- 18
- Issue
- 3_suppl
- Pages
- 13-26
- ISSN
- 1355-8196 (ISSN-L)
- 1758-1060
- OpenAlex
- W2091463282
- Cited by
- 98
- References
- 51
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 7 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 3
- FWCI
- 16.82
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Health Services Research & Policy (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (publishedVersion)
- Adelaide Research & Scholarship (AR&S) (University of Adelaide) (submittedVersion)
- Lancaster EPrints (Lancaster University) (submittedVersion)
- Queen Margaret University Publications Repository (Queen Margaret University) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute for Health and Care Research (09/1809/1072)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Policy Implementation Science
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Information Systems and Management › Interdisciplinary Research and Collaboration
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Evaluation and Performance Assessment
- Keywords
- implementation mechanisms, researcher-practitioner collaboration, program theory, knowledge sharing, relationship building, organizational alignment, knowledge mobilization, implementation capacity, realist evaluation, middle-range theory
- MeSH terms
- Community-Institutional Relations, Cooperative Behavior, Data Collection, Diffusion of Innovation, United Kingdom, Health Policy, Health Services Research, Humans, Leadership, Learning, Longitudinal Studies, Models, Theoretical, Motivation, Research Design, Program Evaluation, Program Development, Models, Organizational, Empirical Research, Evidence-Based Practice
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
