Barriers and Facilitators to Adopting a Systematic, Proactive, Evidence-Informed Technical Assistance System.

Area of Science:

• Implementation Science
• Organizational Development
• Public Health Practice

Background:

• Traditional technical assistance (TA) often lacks a systematic, evidence-informed approach.
• Training and TA centers (TTACs) are increasingly seeking to enhance their support services.
• Organizational readiness is crucial for the successful adoption of innovations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the key elements of a high-quality TA system.
• To detail the operationalization of the Getting To Outcomes-Technical Assistance (GTO-TA) system.
• To identify lessons learned from transitioning to an evidence-informed TA model.

Main Methods:

• Co-design and implementation of the GTO-TA system through collaboration.
• Utilizing data from surveys, interviews, and consensus conversations.
• Analyzing the transition from "TA-as-usual" to a proactive, systematic TA approach.

Main Results:

• GTO-TA operationalizes a proactive, evidence-informed TA approach.
• The system aims to enhance organizational readiness by addressing barriers and facilitators.
• Key lessons emphasize the need for internal operational changes and understanding adoption perceptions.

Conclusions:

• Transitioning to an evidence-informed TA system requires strategic planning and execution.
• Internal operational adjustments are essential for TA providers to adopt new methods.
• Perceptions of relative advantage significantly influence the adoption of new TA systems.