Implementation research design: integrating participatory action research into randomized controlled trials
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND: A gap continues to exist between what is known to be effective and what is actually delivered in the usual course of medical care. The goal of implementation research is to reduce this gap. However, a tension exists between the need to obtain generalizeable knowledge through implementation trials, and the inherent differences between healthcare organizations that make standard interventional approaches less likely to succeed. The purpose of this paper is to explore the integration of participatory action research and randomized controlled trial (RCT) study designs to suggest a new approach for studying interventions in healthcare settings. DISCUSSION: We summarize key elements of participatory action research, with particular attention to its collaborative, reflective approach. Elements of participatory action research and RCT study designs are discussed and contrasted, with a complex adaptive systems approach used to frame their integration. SUMMARY: The integration of participatory action research and RCT design results in a new approach that reflects not only the complex nature of healthcare organizations, but also the need to obtain generalizeable knowledge regarding the implementation process.
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A number of approaches to addressing the exploration and adoption decision phases include academic-public partnerships, community-based participatory research, and action research.
“A number of approaches to addressing the exploration and adoption decision phases include academic-public partnerships, community-based participatory research, and action research”
From Advancing a Conceptual Model of Evidence-Based Practice Implementation in Public Service Sectors (2011) · cites this paper as Leykum et al. 2009
The “Participatory action research defined” section (page not provided) identifies community-based participatory research as a related approach and describes action research as collaborative, problem-focused, and concerned with planning action. The copy does not identify academic-public partnerships as an approach or explicitly connect these approaches to exploration and adoption decision phases. (LLM, conf=0.82)
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References 64 · Cited by 146
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- Authors
- Leykum, L. K., Pugh, J. A., Lanham, H. J., Harmon, J., & McDaniel, R. R.
- Affiliations
- South Texas Veterans Health Care System (US)
- The University of Texas at San Antonio Health Science Center (US)
- The University of Texas at Austin (US)
- Fairleigh Dickinson University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Leykum, Luci K
- Venue
- Implementation Science
- Published
- 2009-10-23
- Volume
- 4
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 69-69
- ISSN
- 1748-5908 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC2770984
- OpenAlex
- W2014376729
- Cited by
- 146
- References
- 64
- Citations by year
- 2026: 4 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 17 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 13 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 13 · 2016: 5 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 6 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 9
- FWCI
- 12.71
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Implementation Science (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
- Texas ScholarWorks (Texas Digital Library) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Funders
- U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Health Services Research and Development
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Policy Implementation Science
- Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Organizational Behavior and Human Resource Management › Appreciative Inquiry and Organizational Change
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Sciences Research and Education
- Keywords
- implementation research, participatory action research, randomized controlled trials, implementation trial, complex adaptive systems, healthcare organizations, knowledge transfer, generalizability
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