The Center for Dissemination and Implementation at the Institute for Public Health didn’t let 2020 dampen its efforts to fund vital research projects. A total of $144,070 has been awarded via CDI’s Pilot/Small Grants programs and its Rapid Add-On (RAD) funding program to seven projects each led by Institute for Public Health Faculty Scholars.
Two of the projects were funded by the Center for Dissemination and Implementation in conjunction with the Washington University Implementation Science Center for Cancer Control, and five were fully funded by the Center for Dissemination and Implementation.
Awarded projects include:
Using electronic health record log data to study implementation (Pilot grant)
Principal Investigator: Beth Prusaczyk, PhD, MSW
This project looks to understand and test how the logs of providers’ interactions with electronic health records can be used to capture providers’ delivery of care. Log data are potentially rich sources of data that capture provider behavior but they have not been widely used. This project will assess the validity of the data and create a process that can be replicated by other researchers and other institutions who want to use these data for similar purposes.
Digital platform for dissemination & implementation of eating disorders treatment (Pilot grant)
Principal Investigator: Ellen Fitzsimmons-Craft, PhD
Eating disorders are a serious mental illness, but individuals typically do not receive evidence-based care, highlighting a wide research-practice gap. This project will develop a novel “all-in-one” online platform for not only disseminating training for providers in an evidence-based treatment for eating disorders, but also aiding in its implementation, as technology can overcome barriers to dissemination and implementation.
Examining the Misimplementation of National School Lunch Program Standards (Pilot grant funded by CDI and WU-ISCCC)
Principal Investigator: Sarah Moreland-Russell, PhD, MPH
The National School Lunch/Breakfast program (NSLP/NSB) is an evidence-based intervention to improve the nutritional quality of foods served to children and ultimately prevent childhood obesity. Despite evidence of effectiveness, the Trump administration, ordered flexibilities to sodium, wheat, and milk requirements, weakening the standards. This study will use a mixed methods approach to examine the impact of the misimplementation of NSLP/NSB on the many levels involved.
Using a Matrixed Multiple Case Study Design to Develop Implementation Strategies (Pilot grant)
Principal Investigator: Leopoldo Cabassa PhD, MSW
This pilot study uses an innovative mixed method approach to conduct secondary analyses of data from an existing trial examining the effectiveness and implementation of a peer-led healthy lifestyle intervention for people with SMI living in supportive housing. The goals of this study are to identify factors associated with the successful implementation and outcomes of this peer-led intervention and use this information to develop implementation strategies. This pilot sets the stage for a larger multi-site follow-up study to test the scale-up of this peer-led healthy lifestyle intervention to improve the health of people with serious mental illness.
Are Toolkits Using Design Principles to Effectively Translate Public Health Evidence to Practice? (Small grant funded by CDI & WU-ISCCC)
Principal Investigator: Maura Kepper, PhD, MPH
The project’s aim is to conduct settings for cancer and chronic disease prevention and control, and develop and apply a rating criterion to determine whether toolkits are abiding by design principles for effective translation. This research will provide evidence to generate the much-needed guidance that will help researchers create translational documents that effectively reach and engage practitioners to translate evidence to practice.
The impact for the SARS-cov2 outbreak in Afghanistan and Pakistan on the education system (Rapid Add-on Funding by CDI)
Principal Investigator: Jean-Francois Trani, PhD, MA
This project involves conducting a large-scale validated survey on the pandemic outbreak and primary education in rural Afghanistan and Pakistan. Its aim is to leverage survey findings to provide educational policy recommendations on the impact of distance learning programs and the emotional and physical health (violence or malnutrition) of students, teachers and families.
Another goal is to circumvent the lack of school-based resources with suggested new initiatives such as using age-appropriate self-learning and media-based materials linked to curriculum priorities for students and professional development for teachers.
Strategies and Implementation Outcomes related to Bundled Payments for Care Improvement-Advanced (BPCI-A) and socially high risk populations (Rapid Add-on Funding by CDI)
Principal Investigator: Karen Joynt Maddox, MD, MPH
In 2018, The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services introduced the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement-Advanced (BPCI-A) initiative. It is a voluntary, alternative payment model designed to reduce spending and improve outcomes. The purpose of this study is to conduct a national survey of hospital leaders’ decisions to join BPCI-A and identify strategies BPCI-A participants are using to improve care and achieve success under BPCI-A. This study is the first of its kind to apply implementation science frameworks to examine the success of alternative payment models such as BPCI-A.