Implementation of Complex Interventions
Learn to implement complex interventions in your healthcare project
Complex Interventions
Meet most of the following conditions*:
- Have multiple components that interact with each other
- Require coordination between the people delivering and receiving the intervention
- Require adaption at the organizational, workforce, and patient levels
- Require daily flexibility in implementation
- Tackle multi-level gaps or problems from a comprehensive approach
* We acknowledge that there is no consensus on how complex interventions are defined.
Case Examples
Clinical Intervention
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic events occurring before age 18, such as maltreatment or exposure to violence. Screening is increasingly recommended to address physical and mental health conditions associated with these events.
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Implementation Intervention
Multi-faceted strategy to implement ACEs screenings in primary care.
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Public Health Example
Content to come
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Resources & Key groups
- DECIPHER brings together experts from a range of disciplines to tackle public health issues
- NCI’s Consortium for Cancer Implementation Science (CCIS) - Action Groups
- Patient Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) - Standards for Studies of Complex Interventions
- List of Readings and References (Word Document, 38 KB)
Forms and Functions
Functions and forms are two concepts from complex systems thinking that can help you conceptualize an intervention’s change process and its delivery in local contexts.
Core Functions
Structural or procedural goals of the intervention, informed by theory/framework, and fostering a mechanism of change
Forms
Tailored actions (e.g., steps, procedures, implementation strategies) tailored to local contexts and aligned to meet each Core Function
Case Examples
Integrated Actionable Aging Assessment for Cancer Patients (IA3-CP)
Aging is the greatest risk factor for cancer incidence and mortality. Strong data and expert recommendations support the use of geriatric screening assessments to guide treatment for older adults (>65 years old).
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Pragmatic Tools
Tools to help you operationalize and apply the concepts of functions and forms in your project.
Functions & Forms PDF
An editable PDF to map your interventions' needs, core functions and forms with team members, partners and patients.
Download PDF (1.6 MB)
Aligned Interview Guide
A word document to guide your adoption of forms and functions.
Download Word Doc (63 KB)
Adaptations of Forms Tracking Matrix
An excel spreadsheet you can share with study participants and partners to identify changes in their priorities (core functions) and adaptations over time.