Equity Considerations in Implementation Research

While the development of health interventions has advanced significantly, their real-world application often fails to reach all segments of the population equitably. Implementation science, the study of methods to promote the uptake of research findings into routine practice, provides a critical lens to address these disparities. However, considerations of equity are often not explicitly integrated into implementation efforts. This can lead to the perpetuation or even exacerbation of existing health inequities related to race, socioeconomic status, gender, and other social determinants of health. There is a growing recognition that a deliberate focus on equity is fundamental to the success of implementation research to ensure that all subpopulations can reach the same health outcomes despite their baseline.

The primary goal of this Research Topic is to address the gap in knowledge on how to embed equity within implementation research. Many effective health interventions, when implemented, do not achieve the same outcomes across different population groups due to a failure to consider and address pre-existing disparities and contextual factors. This collection aims to build a collective understanding of "equitable implementation" by showcasing research that intentionally integrates equity considerations into the principles and strategies of implementation science. We seek to highlight approaches that move beyond one-size-fits-all implementation and instead tailor strategies to meet the specific needs of marginalized and underserved populations, ultimately working towards the elimination of health disparities.

This Research Topic invites submissions that advance our understanding of equity in implementation research across various health contexts and settings. We welcome a range of manuscript types, including original empirical research, systematic reviews, and papers on the development or validation of theories, frameworks, and measures.

Specific themes of interest include, but are not limited to:
- The application of equity-focused implementation strategies in the prevention or management of diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, or infectious diseases
- Methodological innovations for measuring and evaluating equity in implementation research
- Case studies of community-engaged approaches to designing and adapting interventions for diverse populations
- Analyses of how structural factors like racism and economic inequality impact implementation outcomes
- Theoretical papers that refine our conceptual understanding of equitable implementation

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Classification
• Clinical Trial
• Community Case Study
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Implementation science, Marginalized populations, Adaptation of interventions, Equity-focused strategies, Health equity, Equitable implementation, Health disparities, Social determinants of health, Underserved communities, Contextual factors, Community engagement, Methodological innovations, Measurement of equity

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.