A new article by LauraEllen Ashcraft, PhD, MSW, co-authored with Meghan B. Lane-Fall of Columbia University, introduces a novel teaching tool designed to help early-career researchers apply implementation science in practice.
The use of implementation science (IS) in health research has grown rapidly, but many new scholars face challenges in translating abstract IS theories into practical applications for their own projects. Traditional biomedical and health services research training often does not prepare learners to integrate these concepts effectively, leaving a gap between evidence-based practices and their real-world use.
To address this challenge, Penn researchers developed the GUIDE—Guided Understanding of Implementation, Development & Education—a new teaching tool designed to make IS more approachable and actionable. GUIDE draws on well-established frameworks in the field, including Implementation Mapping, the Implementation Research Logic Model (IRLM), ERIC implementation strategies, and Proctor’s Outcomes Framework. The tool prompts learners to clearly articulate the evidence-based practice of interest, identify its core and adaptable components, and define the evidence-practice gap.
By providing structured prompts and connections across concepts, GUIDE not only helps students and early-career researchers understand how IS frameworks fit together but also supports instructors in scaffolding lessons across multiple sessions. Developed from years of teaching experience and consultation with new IS users, GUIDE offers a practical pathway for the next generation of researchers to incorporate theory-driven IS methods into their evaluations.