Implementation aims to develop strategies for available or new health interventions in order to improve access to, and the use of, these interventions by the populations in need.
Remme et al.’s Defining Research to Improve Health Systems states that implementation “aims to develop strategies for available or new health interventions in order to improve access to, and the use of, these interventions by the populations in need.” The paper itself notes that the plethora of research definition creates confusion and interferes with effective communication. Remme et al strive to “present working definitions of operational research, implementation research, and health systems research” in order to “provide greater clarity for non-specialists, scientists, policymakers, and donors working to strengthen health systems.” Implementation is listed as one of the three main research domains, and the paper not only defines the term, but also describes and contextualizes it in terms of the other two research domains (Operational and Health System).
Remme, Jan H. F., Taghreed Adam, Francisco Becerra-Posada, Catherine D’Arcangues, Michael Devlin, Charles Gardner, Abdul Ghaffar, et al. “Defining Research to Improve Health Systems.” PLoS Medicine 7, no. 11 (November 16, 2010): e1001000. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1001000.