Using the TRANSLATE Framework to Support Practice Transformation: Perspectives of a Practice Facilitator

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Services Research
• Translational Science

Background:

• Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) funding was awarded in 2008 by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) to community health boards (CHBs).
• CHBs were directed to collaborate with schools, worksites, communities, and healthcare entities to combat obesity and tobacco use/exposure.
• CHBs could choose between implementing obesity/healthy lifestyle guidelines or linking clinics with community resources.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe how a practice facilitator (PF) organized support for clinical guideline implementation in rural west-central Minnesota.
• To explore the TRANSLATE framework's adaptability for integrating evidence-based knowledge into clinical practice.
• To examine the unique needs of clinical partners in translating research into practice.

Main Methods:

• A county-level public health nurse was assigned the role of PF within a CHB.
• The PF utilized the TRANSLATE framework to guide the implementation process.
• A community perspective was adopted to document the process and challenges.

Main Results:

• The PF successfully organized support for implementing clinical guidelines.
• The TRANSLATE framework demonstrated capacity to accommodate specific clinical partner needs.
• The study highlights a novel partnership model between public health, guideline developers, and clinical providers.

Conclusions:

• The TRANSLATE framework is a valuable tool for translating evidence-based guidelines into clinical practice.
• Community-academic partnerships, facilitated by public health professionals, can effectively drive clinical guideline implementation.
• Addressing the particularities of clinical partners is crucial for successful real-world application of evidence-based interventions.