Editorial: Implementation Mapping for selecting, adapting and developing implementation strategies
María E. Fernández, Byron J. Powell, Gill A. ten Hoor
Abstract
Editorial on the Research Topic Implementation Mapping for selecting, adapting and developing implementation strategiesThe development, or selection and tailoring, of strategies to implement evidencebased interventions (EBIs) is essential for closing the research-to-practice gap and improving health and health equity.Although Intervention Mapping (1) includes planning implementation strategies within its 6-step protocol for planning, implementing, and evaluating multilevel interventions, the standalone process for designing implementation strategies for existing EBIs via Implementation Mapping (IM) (2) was introduced in 2019.It is a helpful tool for guiding the design and tailoring of strategies to enhance intervention adoption, implementation, and sustainment.IM draws from the fields of health promotion and implementation science.It includes five tasks: (1) conduct a needs and assets assessment and identify program adopters and implementers; (2) state adoption and implementation outcomes and performance objectives, identify determinants, and create matrices of change objectives; (3) choose theoretical methods and select or design implementation strategies; (4) produce implementation protocols and materials; and (5) evaluate implementation outcomes.The tasks are iterative, with previous tasks revisited throughout to ensure all implementers, outcomes, determinants, and objectives are addressed.IM addresses two priorities in implementation science by enhancing the design and/or tailoring of implementation strategies and facilitating a better understanding of the mechanisms through which implementation strategies work (3-5).