ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Health Serv.
Sec. Implementation Science
This article is part of the Research TopicDissemination and Implementation Science in MedicineView all 26 articles
The ART of evidence-based care: Proof of concept of a novel strategy to Accelerate Research Translation in health organisations
Provisionally accepted
Katherine E Harding1,2*
Annie K Lewis1,2
Julie Considine2,3Penny Casey2,3Ian D Davis2,4Am Dennett1,2Germaine Tan1,2
Jacqueline Anne Boyle2,4
Nicholas Taylor1,2- 1La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
- 2Eastern Health, Box Hill, Australia
- 3Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia
- 4Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
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Abstract Introduction: This study evaluated a novel strategy to improve accessibility of implementation science to clinicians in a large health network. The strategy, called Accelerating Research Translation (ART), was based on an adaptation of the A3 problem solving method developed for use in healthcare quality improvement. Method: An observational pre post design was used to conduct a "proof of concept" trial of the ART strategy. Clinicians identifying a gap between a clinical practice guideline and usual care were recruited as Project Leads to conduct research translation projects over a 6-month period, supported by a training program involving a workshop series and mentor. The proportion of patients receiving guideline-consistent care for each project was measured pre and post intervention and results across projects combined in a planned pooled meta-analysis. Secondary outcomes included changes in confidence in research translation for Project Leads and the degree of evidence of implementation, mapped against Meyer and Goes' Stages of Healthcare Implementation. Results: Ten projects were completed by 13 Project Leads, involving a diverse range of professional disciplines, clinical specialties and healthcare settings. Pooled analysis of data from 768 patients suggests the ART program increased the odds of receiving evidence-based care (log OR 2.52, 95% CI 0.93 to 4.11, p<0.01). Effects were stronger for evidence-practice gaps that could be addressed with changes to local policies and processes, than those dependent on changing behaviour or complex systems. Confidence of Project Leads improved and all reported increases in the level of implementation of evidence. Conclusion: This novel approach empowered clinicians to tackle evidence-practice gaps within a familiar structure already well-accepted and understood by health service providers. This concept provides a promising mechanism to demystify implementation science and address local evidence-practice gaps at scale.
Keywords: implementation science, Knowledge translation, Evidence-Based Practice, Quality Improvement, Health Services, Professional Education
Received: 23 Aug 2025; Accepted: 11 Dec 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Harding, Lewis, Considine, Casey, Davis, Dennett, Tan, Boyle and Taylor. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Katherine E Harding
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