Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39819940›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2025

Trials and tribulations: a qualitative exploration of researcher perspectives on navigating the challenges of health system implementation research.

April Morrow, Elijah Tyedmers, Deborah Debono, Priscilla Chan, Julia Steinberg, Gabriella Tiernan, Emily Hogden, Natalie Taylor

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

April MorrowImplementation to Impact (i2i), School of Population Health, UNSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia april.morrow@unsw.edu.au.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0714-363X
Elijah TyedmersImplementation to Impact (i2i), School of Population Health, UNSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Deborah DebonoCentre for Health Services Management, School of Public Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2095-156X
Priscilla ChanImplementation to Impact (i2i), School of Population Health, UNSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Julia SteinbergThe Daffodil Centre, The University of Sydney, a joint venture with Cancer Council NSW, Cancer Council New South Wales, Kings Cross, New South Wales, Australia.
Gabriella TiernanImplementation to Impact (i2i), School of Population Health, UNSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Emily HogdenImplementation to Impact (i2i), School of Population Health, UNSW, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Natalie TaylorImplementation to Impact (i2i), UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0280-0883

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveWhile researchers are crucial to the successful delivery of implementation trials, their perspectives are rarely captured in the evaluation of these trials. This qualitative study aimed to capture the experiences of a small research team coordinating a large, multisite implementation trial (the Hide and Seek Project) in the Australian healthcare setting.

designA qualitative approach was used, whereby members of the Hide and Seek Project research team were invited to take part in semistructured focus groups led by an external facilitator. The focus group guide was developed to explore the experiences of the research team (including challenges and lessons learnt) as they moved through key study activities. Focus groups were transcribed verbatim and analysed using an inductive thematic approach. Barriers and facilitators identified within themes were deductively coded to domains of the updated Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research.

settingParticipants were recruited from a research organisation based in Sydney, Australia.

participantsA total of seven researcher and administering institution participants took part in four focus groups.

resultsAnalysis highlighted the following themes: navigating bureaucracy, distinguishing implementation trials from clinical trials, the impact of COVID-19, balancing rigour and pragmatism in implementation trials, data access and complexity of analysis, and key learnings and future directions (subthemes: building relationships with ethics committees, communicating implementation concepts, streamlining of the implementation and research approach).

conclusionsFindings highlight the need for streamlining current administrative and ethical review processes, as well as procedures that allow greater flexibility for researchers to respond to challenges as they arise. Lessons learnt by the Hide and Seek Project team hold potential relevance for fellow researchers involved in coordinating implementation trials across diverse contexts.

Indexed as

COVID-19Research PersonnelAustraliaFocus GroupsHumansQualitative ResearchResearch DesignSARS-CoV-2ETHICS (see Medical Ethics)Health ServicesImplementation ScienceQUALITATIVE RESEARCH

Identifiers

PMID39819940
PMCPMC11784370

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.