Cited by 1,271Health Policy Implementation ScienceHealth Sciences Research and EducationClinical practice guidelines implementation

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 100 of the 103 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; 4 of the 45 sources its claims cite were checked for support.

PARIHS revisited: from heuristic to integrated framework for the successful implementation of knowledge into practice

Open access
Harvey, Gill, Kitson, Alison·2015·Implementation Science

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services, or PARIHS framework, was first published in 1998. Since this time, work has been ongoing to further develop, refine and test it. Widely used as an organising or conceptual framework to help both explain and predict why the implementation of evidence into practice is or is not successful, PARIHS was one of the first frameworks to make explicit the multi-dimensional and complex nature of implementation as well as highlighting the central importance of context. Several critiques of the framework have also pointed out its limitations and suggested areas for improvement. DISCUSSION: Building on the published critiques and a number of empirical studies, this paper introduces a revised version of the framework, called the integrated or i-PARIHS framework. The theoretical antecedents of the framework are described as well as outlining the revised and new elements, notably, the revision of how evidence is described; how the individual and teams are incorporated; and how context is further delineated. We describe how the framework can be operationalised and draw on case study data to demonstrate the preliminary testing of the face and content validity of the revised framework. This paper is presented for deliberation and discussion within the implementation science community. Responding to a series of critiques and helpful feedback on the utility of the original PARIHS framework, we seek feedback on the proposed improvements to the framework. We believe that the i-PARIHS framework creates a more integrated approach to understand the theoretical complexity from which implementation science draws its propositions and working hypotheses; that the new framework is more coherent and comprehensive and at the same time maintains it intuitive appeal; and that the models of facilitation described enable its more effective operationalisation.

Overview

AI snapshot

Written from the paper’s full text.

TL;DR

This paper revises the PARIHS framework into the integrated i-PARIHS framework, positioning facilitation as the active ingredient that aligns innovation, recipients, and inner/outer context. It draws on critiques, theoretical antecedents, and three implementation case studies to describe and preliminarily test the revised framework’s face and content validity.

Key findings

  • The revised i-PARIHS framework replaces the original equation SI = ƒ(E,C,F) with SI = Facn(I + R + C), where successful implementation is specified as achievement of agreed implementation/project goals, uptake and embedding of the innovation, engagement and ownership by individuals/teams/stakeholders, and minimised context-related variation across settings.
  • The CKD case reported recorded prevalence increased by 1.2% in 30 participating practices (n = 1,863 additional patients with CKD) compared with a national increase of 0.2%; blood pressure management improved from 34 to 74% (cohort 1) and 58 to 83% (cohort 2).
  • The continence case’s cluster RCT showed no difference between control and intervention wards on overall compliance to continence recommendations, but significant improvements on several secondary outcomes and 1 of the 4 specific recommendations; the nutrition stepped wedge RCT showed no difference in weight loss after 1 week, though key audit measures improved.
  • A cited systematic review found practices supported by a facilitator were 2.76 times more likely to adopt evidence-based clinical guidelines; within 23 studies, audit and feedback was used in 100% and interactive consensus building/goal setting in 91%; the NeoKIP trial reported reduced neonatal mortality of 49% in the third year.

Methods

  • Design: conceptual and theoretical revision paper introducing the i-PARIHS framework, building on published critiques and empirical studies of the original PARIHS framework.
  • Data/sample: three implementation case studies summarised in Table 1—CKD in primary care, continence care in nursing homes, and nutritional care of older adults in acute care—plus literature on PARIHS applications, critiques, and theoretical antecedents.
  • Analysis: narrative synthesis and framework development, with case study data used to demonstrate preliminary testing of the face and content validity of the revised framework.

Limitations

  • Stated: the authors note that ongoing development and evaluation of i-PARIHS are needed; prospective implementation studies remain limited; construct boundaries may overlap and attempts to distinguish them may be imperfect; the label “recipients” may imply a passive role; and future work is needed to test utility, applicability, and content and construct validity.
  • Stated: evidence from effectiveness studies of facilitation is mixed, likely because facilitation itself is a complex intervention involving one or more facilitators applying combined improvement and team-focused strategies.
  • Evident: validation reported here is preliminary face and content validity using illustrative case studies, not full psychometric or prospective outcome validation; two of the cited case study RCTs had null primary outcomes.

Model-written summary. Check it against the paper before relying on it.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1186/s13012-016-0398-2

Cites

100 of 100 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Figures

Fig. 1 The facilitation role and process
Fig. 1 The facilitation role and processCC BY · PubMed Central

Verification

Claims the paper makes

28 Not checked yet · 21 Own interpretation · 5 No basis given · 1 Supported · 1 Partly supported · 1 Own result · accuracy not yet measured

Verify all 41 references — free account

Show all 21 claims

  • Probably not a substantial claim. 33
  • It may state two separate claims as one. 16
36 of 36
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    Successful implementation can be primarily specified as the achievement of implementation/project goals.

    “In our revised, i-PARIHS framework, successful implementation is primarily specified in terms of the achievement of implementation/project goals and results from the facilitation of an innovation with the recipients in their (local, organisational and health system) context (Table 2).”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Implementation of evidence into practice is a complex, multi-dimensional process.

    “PARIHS was one of the first frameworks to make explicit the multi-dimensional and complex nature of implementation as well as highlighting the central importance of context.”
2 of 2

Citations

Cites

Show all 103 references

Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. Hargreaves D. Creative professionalism: the role of teachers in the knowledge society. London: Demos; 1998.
  2. Royal College of Nursing. Quality patient care: the dynamic standard setting system. Scutari: Harrow; 1990.
  3. Heron J. The facilitator’s handbook. London: Kogan Page; 1989.

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Metadata

Authors
Harvey, G., & Kitson, A.
Affiliations
  • University of Manchester (GB)
  • University of Oxford (GB)
Corresponding author
Harvey, Gill
Venue
Implementation Science
Published
2015-12
Volume
11
Issue
1
Pages
33-33
ISSN
1748-5908 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2306592406
Cited by
1,271
References
103
Citations by year
2026: 115 · 2025: 130 · 2024: 203 · 2023: 166 · 2022: 187 · 2021: 170 · 2020: 115 · 2019: 86 · 2018: 61 · 2017: 33 · 2016: 3
FWCI
59.12
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • Implementation Science (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Flinders Academic Commons (Flinders University) (publishedVersion)
  • Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Adelaide Research & Scholarship (AR&S) (University of Adelaide) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Flinders Academic Commons (Flinders University) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Policy Implementation Science
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Sciences Research and Education
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Clinical practice guidelines implementation
Keywords
PARIHS framework, i-PARIHS framework, implementation research, implementation context, implementation facilitation, implementation teams, face and content validity
MeSH terms
Delivery of Health Care, Diffusion of Innovation, Translational Research, Biomedical

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