Dissemination and implementation of trauma research findings.


Given the critical role of research in validating our understanding of how to help clients, it is critical to effectively disseminate the results of research. Viewed as a continuum of activities—including selection, prioritization, and packaging of actionable findings, distribution of information, training of practitioners in new evidence-based practices, and implementation in routine care—dissemination of research presents many challenges. Different parties to the process are likely to have different perspectives so that ways of fostering collaboration between clinicians, managers, implementers, researchers, and clients require exploration. Also in need of improvement are systems for the selection/prioritization and communication of research findings; training programs that better encompass evidence-based treatments, components of that are common to multiple research-supported protocols, and reasons for the necessity of systematic treatment outcome and process research; and training methods that combine highly interactive workshops with posttraining consultation/mentoring to make training more effective. A critical step will be moving toward measurement-based care. If treatment outcomes are routinely monitored, clinicians might better recognize what they are doing well and when they need to change practices, and program managers could examine whether their application of research findings and incorporation of practice changes are having intended effects. New organizational entities will need to be established to focus on implementation of best practices as identified in research. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved)