Travelling the Last Mile – Bringing Evidence to Individuals in Israel: a commentary on building capacity in implementation science

TL;DR

This commentary discusses the importance of implementation science in Israel for bridging the gap between research and clinical practice.

Contribution

The paper emphasizes the need for implementation science to demonstrate consistent, large-scale impact to become a permanent part of biomedicine.

Findings

Implementation science faces challenges like heterogeneity and established practices.

It complements classic epidemiology in population health research.

Sustainable results are needed for implementation science to gain acceptance.

Abstract

In their previously published article in the Israel Journal of Health Policy Research, Rose and colleagues describe and advocate for greater use of implementation science in Israel. As a discipline, implementation science seeks to traverse the last steps in bringing new science from research to clinical practice, which are often the most difficult of the entire process. Implementation science in general faces substantial challenges, including the extraordinary heterogeneity of the dissemination process, and the obstacles represented by established practices, singular preferences, and questions about generalizability. In our view, implementation science complements classic epidemiology as part of a continuum of population health research that warrants greater attention and funding. For now, however, implementation science will need to show that it can consistently achieve sizable, durable, and widespread results if it is to traverse its own last mile and establish itself as a successful and permanent component of biomedicine in Israel.