Table 1 Overview of the Consolidation Framework for Implementation Research

Outer setting

The wider social/political/economic context in which the organisation is embedded. The focus of this domain is on the organisation’s/service’s understanding of, and responsiveness to, patient needs, its links with other external organisations, and its competitiveness with peers who have already implemented the intervention as well as the influence of external policies, regulations and incentives designed to promote the intervention.

Inner setting

The structural and cultural characteristics of the organisation/service where the intervention is implemented. This domain addresses the constructs of: culture, leadership, mentoring, networking, communication patterns, the implementation climate in terms of whether practitioners collectively work towards implementing the intervention and the implementation readiness of the service in terms of leadership engagement and resource availability.

Intervention

Intervention refers to the characteristics of the intervention, and focuses on stakeholders’ views about the quality of the evidence about the intervention, the quality of the design, its ability to adapt to local needs, how it compares to other interventions and how difficult it is to implement. Also includes costs associated with the intervention and its ability to be piloted.

Characteristics of individuals (provider)

The constructs within this domain include: a person’s knowledge and beliefs about the intervention, their self-efficacy in relation to providing the intervention, their commitment to their organisation/service, and other personal attributes that may impact implementation, such as motivation, competence, nature of work contract, and past experiences.

Implementation process

The implementation domain addresses activities undertaken as part of the implementation process and includes the constructs of planning, engagement of appropriate individuals, the quality of the execution process and evaluation methods.