Implementation science in hybrid randomized controlled trials: a state-of-the-art systematic review.

Introduction: Hybrid randomized controlled trials (RCTs) combine effectiveness and implementation aims to accelerate evidence translation. As this is a new yet evolving methodology, it is timely to review the characteristics and reporting quality of hybrid RCTs, and how implementation science theori...

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Publicado en:JBI Evidence Implementation Vol. 24; no. 3; pp. 634 - 652
Autores principales: Liu, Mark G, Comber, Elouise, Martin, Andrew, Roberts, Natasha, Trott, Mike, Costa, Nathalia, Foster, Nadine E, Hickman, Ingrid J
Formato: research systematic review tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Jul2026
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: Jul2026
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      pub: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
      place: Baltimore, Maryland
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        atl: Implementation science in hybrid randomized controlled trials: a state-of-the-art systematic review.
      aug:
        au:
          Liu, Mark G
          Comber, Elouise
          Martin, Andrew
          Roberts, Natasha
          Trott, Mike
          Costa, Nathalia
          Foster, Nadine E
          Hickman, Ingrid J
        affil: ULTRA, The University of Queensland Clinical Trials Capability, Centre for Clinical Research, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
      sug:
        subj:
          Implementation Science
          Randomized Controlled Trials
          Study Design
          Human
          Systematic Review
          Models, Theoretical
          Quality of Health Care
          Mental Health
          Primary Health Care
          Community Health Services
          Abstracts
          Medline
          Citation Analysis
          Checklists
          Life Style
          Sample Size
          Nomenclature
          Descriptive Statistics
          Data Analysis Software
      ab: Introduction: Hybrid randomized controlled trials (RCTs) combine effectiveness and implementation aims to accelerate evidence translation. As this is a new yet evolving methodology, it is timely to review the characteristics and reporting quality of hybrid RCTs, and how implementation science theories, models and frameworks (TMFs) have been used in this context. Methods: Citation-indexed databases (Web of Science, Scopus) were searched from 2012 (inception of "hybrid" terminology) to 2025 for RCTs that were identified as "hybrid" in the title/abstract/keywords and that cited and applied a TMF. RCT design and implementation characteristics were extracted and analyzed descriptively. Reporting quality assessment followed the Standards for Reporting Implementation Studies (StaRI). Results: Of the 1,846 initial hits, 111 papers were included, comprising 52 main results papers, 37 protocols, and 22 secondary papers. Most RCTs were published in the past 5 years (79%), conducted in North America (62%), in primary care/community settings (50%), and calculated sample sizes using the clinical effectiveness outcome (64%). TMFs were mostly used to inform implementation outcomes (88%) versus implementation strategies (52%). The most common TMFs were the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance Framework (RE-AIM) (44%) and Proctor's taxonomy of implementation outcomes (29%). Reporting quality was stronger for clinical intervention components, with fewer RCTs reporting the rationale and fidelity of implementation strategies (27%) compared to the clinical intervention (60%). Conclusions: Hybrid RCTs that apply TMFs are increasing, yet there is evidence that maturation is warranted. Clinical effectiveness rather than implementation remains the focus of most hybrid RCTs. More deliberate application and reporting of implementation science TMFs may improve the quality of future hybrid RCTs. http://links.lww.com/IJEBH/A518
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        systematic review
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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