Dissemination and Implementation Science: Research for the Real World Medical Family Therapist

• Main Authors: Polaha, Jodi, Nolan, Beth
• Published: Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University 2014
• Subjects: behavioral health; implementation research; behavioral parent training; implementation team; behavioral health provider; Family Medicine
• Online Access: https://dc.etsu.edu/etsu-works/6753; https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-03482-9_16

Dissemination and Implementation (D&I) Science is an evolving field of models and methods aimed at closing the research-practice gap. This chapter provides an overview of D&I Science with particular emphasis on its relevance for academic and clinical medical family therapists (MedFTs) and/or graduate students in training. It begins with a discussion of the poor reach of evidence-based treatments, building a case for the evolution of D&I Science. Basic definitions of dissemination research and implementation research are provided, followed by a description of the characteristics of D&I Science. Two exemplary D&I models are described with examples that relate to MedFT. The chapter closes with a discussion about how the reader can learn more about this dynamic and growing field.