Moving research tools into practice: the successes and challenges in promoting uptake of classification tools

Barbara Jane Cunningham, Mary Jo Cooley Hidecker, Nancy Thomas-Stonell, Peter Rosenbaum

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: In this paper, we present our experiences–both successes and challenges–in implementing evidence-based classification tools into clinical practice. We also make recommendations for others wanting to promote the uptake and application of new research-based assessment tools. Method: We first describe classification systems and the benefits of using them in both research and practice. We then present a theoretical framework from Implementation Science to report strategies we have used to implement two research-based classification tools into practice. We also illustrate some of the challenges we have encountered by reporting results from an online survey investigating 58 Speech-language Pathologists’ knowledge and use of the Communication Function Classification System (CFCS), a new tool to classify children’s functional communication skills. Result and conclusions: We offer recommendations for researchers wanting to promote the uptake of new tools in clinical practice. Specifically, we identify structural, organizational, innovation, practitioner, and patient-related factors that we recommend researchers address in the design of implementation interventions. Roles and responsibilities of both researchers and clinicians in making implementations science a success are presented.Implications for rehabilitation Promoting uptake of new and evidence-based tools into clinical practice is challenging. Implementation science can help researchers to close the knowledge-to-practice gap. Using concrete examples, we discuss our experiences in implementing evidence-based classification tools into practice within a theoretical framework. Recommendations are provided for researchers wanting to implement new tools in clinical practice. Implications for researchers and clinicians are presented.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1099-1107
Number of pages9
JournalDisability and Rehabilitation
Volume40
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 24 2018

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

Keywords

  • Implementation science
  • children
  • classification tools
  • research-to-practice
  • speech-language pathology

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Rehabilitation

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