Implementation research in emergency medicine: a systematic scoping review

Area of Science:

• Healthcare research
• Emergency medicine
• Implementation science

Background:

• Implementation research bridges the gap between research findings and clinical practice to enhance healthcare quality.
• This study provides an overview of the volume and scope of implementation research within emergency medicine (EM).

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the current state of implementation research in emergency medicine.
• To identify trends and inform future research directions in EM implementation science.

Main Methods:

• A systematic scoping review of studies published in 2002, 2007, and 2012.
• Searched electronic databases and reference lists; screened titles/abstracts and full papers; extracted data with dual author verification for a sample.

Main Results:

• 197 eligible papers were identified from 3581 citations, showing a significant increase in publications over time (26 in 2002 to 94 in 2012).
• Most studies focused on identifying evidence-practice gaps (42%) or evaluating intervention effectiveness (39%).
• Few studies utilized theory (2 papers) or employed rigorous designs (5 randomized trials for effectiveness), with limited intervention detail.

Conclusions:

• While implementation research in EM is increasing, a focus on identifying gaps and weak study designs persists.
• Recommendations include exploring barriers/enablers, integrating theory, improving intervention reporting, and using robust designs for effectiveness evaluation.