Implementation science and the clinical trial workforce: A national needs assessment of training and practice

Translating clinical trials into routine healthcare remains fractured and inconsistent, reflecting an enduring challenge in bridging research and practice. Implementation science can be applied to the clinical trial context, to better understand and improve how evidence is adopted and adapted in practice. Building the clinical trial workforce capability in implementation science for clinical trial design, conduct, and dissemination has the potential to address challenges of evidence translation at a much earlier stage of the research pipeline.

To determine, across the Australian and New Zealand clinical trials workforce (including consumers), familiarity with and understanding of implementation science, interest to upskill in methodologies, and barriers to and preferences for, accessing support.

Online survey developed with Likert scale and open-ended responses. Snowball recruitment from clinical trial networks and centres, and QR code promotion.

353 responses received across diverse geographies, professions, and clinical areas. Over 40% were unsure how to define their understanding of implementation science in the context of clinical trials. Most participants (56.7%) were familiar with some methodologies but had limited experience of using them. Training interests were moderate to high, particularly on embedding implementation science in trial design, recruitment strategies, sustainment, and scalability. Over 80% believed competency in implementation science will become essential to the clinical trial workforce in the future.

This needs assessment of a clinically, professionally and geographically diverse clinical trial workforce reflects that implementation science is an emerging field of value in this context and there is an appetite for training and support.