Irish Implementation Science Training Institute

The Irish Implementation Science Training Institute, is a training course in implementation science, hosted by the newly formed Health Implementation Research Hub at the School of Public Health, University College Cork. 

What does the course involve?

The course has a blended format. Participants complete asynchronous online introductory modules over five months allowing them to work at their own pace followed by a 3-day face-to-face workshop (facilitated by international experts in implementation science.

Modules cover:

• An introduction to dissemination and implementation research
• Theories, model and frameworks in implementation science
• Selecting and developing implementation strategies
• Fidelity and adaptation
• Measurement, study design and evaluation

Each module includes presentation(s), videos, readings and a reflection, to help you strengthen your project proposal. Following completion of the modules, a revised project proposal is required from each participant prior to the face-to-face workshop.

During the  3-day face-to-face workshop workshop participants will engage in:

• Specialised presentations by leaders in the field on advanced topics such as equity and implementation science, mechanisms of action, trial design and measurement, publishing and grant writing
• Small group work and project feedback from expert facilitators
• Peer and facilitator networking
• Q&A with international experts
• Mentoring opportunities

This training course will equip participants with the knowledge and skills required to undertake high-quality dissemination and implementation (D&I) research relevant to their field and identify gaps that warrant further exploration. Participants will:

• Gain knowledge and skills to undertake high quality implementation research.
• Get feedback on their implementation research project or plans from international experts
• Have an opportunity to network with implementation researchers

Past Speakers/Facilitators for ISTI

Byron Powell Brown School, Washington University, St. Louis, USA. 

Rachel Shelton Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, USA.

Jonathan Purtle School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, USA.

Geoff Curran UAMS, Psychiatric Research Insttitute, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA.

Justin Presseau School of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada

Bianca Albers Institute for Implementation Science in Health Care, Universitat Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

Michael Sykes Northumbria University, Department of Nursing, Midwifery and Health, Newcastle, UK

Sheena McHugh School of Public Health, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland

Rinad Beidas Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, USA

Jenny McSharry School of Psychology, Universtiy of Galway, Galway, Ireland

Who is eligible?

A cohort of approximately 30 participants are accepted into the training course.

The training is open to PhD students, researchers, health professionals and health service management undertaking implementation research or evaluation across health care, public health, and community settings. Preference will be given to early and mid-career applicants who demonstrate potential for developing the field of implementation science within Ireland.

In addition, to be eligible, participants must meet all of the following criteria:

1. Feasible implementation research proposal to work on throughout the course. This should be a project the applicant is undertaking or seriously interested in conducting.
2. Demonstrated experience and expertise in a health-related discipline (e.g., medicine, behavioural medicine, health psychology, pharmacy, nursing, medical anthropology, health economics, public health, health policy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, dietetics, dentistry, social sciences).
3. Willing and able to pay their own travel expenses (round-trip, ground transportation, hotel accommodation, and evening meals) and attend and actively participate in the entire online and in-person training institute, if accepted.
4. Attendance at the in-person training will NOT be permitted to those who have not actively participated and completed the required online course work.

How can I apply?

There are no current dates set for training but please email HIRH@ucc.ie to be added to the mailing list for updates.

Find out more about the Health Implementation Research Hub here or follow @HIRH_Ireland on Twitter.