Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Behavioral and Social Sciences at the National Institutes of Health: adoption of research findings in health research and practice as a scientific priority

Translational Behavioral Medicine volume 7, pages 380–384 (2017)Cite this article

Abstract

The National Institutes of Health’s Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research (OBSSR) recently released its Strategic Plan for 2017 to 2021. This plan highlights three scientific priorities: (1) improve the synergy of basic and applied behavioral and social sciences research, (2) enhance and promote the research infrastructure, methods, and measures needed to support a more cumulative and integrated approach to behavioral and social sciences research, and (3) facilitate the adoption of behavioral and social sciences research findings in health research and in practice. This commentary focuses on the challenges and opportunities to facilitate the adoption of research findings in health research and in practice. In addition to the ongoing NIH support for dissemination and implementation (D&I) research, we must address transformative challenges and opportunities such as better disseminating and implementing D&I research, merging research and practice, adopting more rigorous and diverse methods and measures for both D&I and clinical trials research, evaluating technological-based delivery of interventions, and transitioning from minimally adaptable intervention packages to planned adaptations rooted in behavior change principles. Beyond translation into practice and policy, the OBSSR Strategic Plan also highlights the need for translation of behavioral and social science findings into the broader biomedical research enterprise.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution.

Access options

Buy single article

Instant access to the full article PDF.

USD 39.95

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

References

  1. The Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research Strategic Plan 2017-2021. Retrieved November 23, 2016, from https://obssr.od.nih.gov/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/OBSSR-SP-2017-2021.pdf.

  2. Riley, W. T. (2017). Basic and applied behavioural and social sciences at the NIH. Nature Human Behav, 1, 0023. doi:10.1038/s41562-016-0023.

  3. Riley, W. T. (2017) Behavioral and social sciences at the National Institutes of Health: methods, measures, and data infrastructures as a scientific priority. Health Psych, 36(1), 5–7.

  4. Meslin, E. B., Blasimme, A., & Cambon-Thomsen, A. (2013). Mapping the translational policy “valley of death.”. Clin Trans Med, 2(1), 1–8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Wolff, S. H. (2008). The meaning of translational research and why it matters. JAMA, 299(2), 274–286.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Siu, A. L., Bibbins-Domingo, K., & Grossman, D. (2015). Evidence-based clinical prevention in the era of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act: the role of the US Preventive Services Task Force. JAMA, 314(19), 2021–2012. doi:10.1001/jama.2015.13154.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Purtle, J., Peters, R., & Brownson, R. C. (2016). A review of policy dissemination and implementation research funded by the National Institutes of Health, 2007-2014. Implement Sci, 11, 1. doi:10.1186/s13012-015-0367-1.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  8. Neta, G., Sanchez, M. A., Chambers, D. A., Phillips, S. M., Leyva, B., Cynkin, L., et al. (2015). Implementation science in cancer prevention and control: a decade of grant funding by the National Cancer Institute and future directions. Implement Sci, 10, 4. doi:10.1186/s13012-014-0020-2.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Proctor, E. K., & Chambers, D. A. (2016). Training in dissemination and implementation research: a field wide perspective. Transl Behav Med. doi:10.1007/s13142-016-0406-8.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Kuo, T., Gase, L. N., Inkelas, M., & The Population Health and Policy Workgroup. (2015). Dissemination, implementation, and improvement science research in population health: opportunities for public health and CTSAs. Clin Transl Sci, 8(6), 807–813.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  11. Wolfenden, L., Milat, A. J., Lecathelinais, C., Skelton, E., Clinton-McHarg, T., Williams, C., et al. (2016). A bibliographic review of public health dissemination and implementation research output and citation rates. Prev Med Rep, 4, 441–443.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  12. Brunner, J. W., Sankare, I. C., & Kahn, K. L. (2015). Interdisciplinary priorities for dissemination, implementation, and improvement science: frameworks, mechanics, and measures. Clin Transl Sci, 8(6), 820–823. doi:10.1111/cts.12319.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  13. Fischer, F., Lange, K., Klose, K., Greiner, W., & Kraemer, A. (2016). Barriers and strategies in guideline implementation—a scoping review. Healthcare, 4, 36. doi:10.3390/healthcare4030036.

    Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  14. Budrionis, A., & Belika, J. G. (2016). The Learning Healthcare System: Where are we now? A systematic review. J Biomed Inform, 64, 87–92. doi:10.1016/j.jbi.2016.09.018.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Curran, G. M., Bauer, M., Mittman, B., Pyne, J. M., & Stetler, C. (2012). Effectiveness-implementation hybrid designs: combining elements of clinical effectiveness and implementation research to enhance public health impact. Med Care, 50(3), 217–226. doi:10.1097/MLR.0b013e3182408812.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Hall, K., Staiger, P. K., Simpson, A., Best, D., & Lubman, D. I. (2016). After 30 years of dissemination, have we achieved sustained practice change in motivational interviewing? Addiction, 111(7), 1144–1150. doi:10.1111/add.13014.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Nutbeam, D., & Bauman, A. E. (2006). Evaluation in a nutshell: a practical guide to the evaluation of health promotion programs. New York: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Southam-Gerow, M. A., & Dorsey, S. (2014). Qualitative and mixed methods research in dissemination and implementation science: introduction to the special issue. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol, 43(6), 845–850. doi:10.1080/15374416.2014.930690.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Rabin, B. A., Brownson, R. C., Kerner, J. F., & Glasgow, R. E. (2006). Methodologic challenges in disseminating evidence-based interventions to promote physical activity. Am J Prev Med, 31(4 Suppl), S24–S34.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Chan, C. K. Y., Oldenburg, B., & Viswanath, K. (2015). Advancing the science of dissemination and implementation in behavioral medicine: evidence and progress. Int J Behav Med, 22, 277–282. doi:10.1007/s12529-015-9490-2.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Northridge, M. E., & Metcalf, S. S. (2016). Enhancing implementation science by applying best principles of system science. Health Res Policy Sys, 14, 74. doi:10.1186/s12961-016-0146-8.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Rabin, B. A., Lewis, C. C., Norton, W. E., Neta, G., Chambers, D., Tobin, J. N., et al. (2016). Measurement resources for dissemination and implementation research in health. Implement Sci, 11, 42. doi:10.1186/s13012-016-0401-y.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  23. Glasgow, R. E., & Riley, W. T. (2013). Pragmatic measures: what they are and why we need them. Am J Prev Med, 45(2), 237–243. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2013.03.010.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Riley, W. T., Glasgow, R. E., Etheridge, L., & Abernethy, A. P. (2013). Rapid, responsive, relevant (R3) research: a call for a rapid learning health research enterprise. Clin Transl Med, 2(1), 10. doi:10.1186/2001-1326-2-10.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  25. Neta, G., Glasgow, R. E., Carpenter, C. R., Grimshaw, J. M., Rabin, B. A., Fernandez, M. E., et al. (2015). A framework for enhancing the value of research for dissemination and implementation. Am J Pub Health, 105(1), 49–57. doi:10.2105/AJPH.2014.302206.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Mohr, D. C., Cheung, K., Schueller, S. M., Hendricks Brown, C., & Duan, N. (2013). Continuous evaluation of evolving behavioral intervention technologies. Am J Prev Med, 45(4), 517–523. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2013.06.006.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Buscemi, J., Janke, A., Kugler, K. C., Duffecy, J., Mielenz, T. J., St. George, S. M., et al. (2016). Increasing public health impact of evidence-based intervention in behavioral medicine: new approaches and future directions. J Behav Med. doi:10.1007/s10865-016-9773-3.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Linke, S. E., Larsen, B. A., Marquez, B., Mendoza-Vasconez, A., & Marcus, B. H. (2016). Adapting technological interventions to meet the needs of priority populations. Prog Cardiovascu Dis, 58(6), 630–638. doi:10.1016/j.pcad.2016.03.001.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Raaijmakers, L. C., Pouwels, S., Berghuis, K. A., & Nienhuis, S. W. (2015). Technology-based interventions in the treatment of overweight and obesity: a systematic review. Appetite, 95, 138–151. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2015.07.008.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Fowler, L. A., Holt, S. L., & Joshi, D. (2016). Mobile technology-based interventions for adult users of alcohol: a systematic review of the literature. Addict Behav, 62, 25–34. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2016.06.008.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Atkins, M. S., Rusch, D., Mehta, T. G., & Lakind, D. (2016). Future directions for dissemination and implementation science: Aligning ecological theory and public health to close the research to practice gap. J Clin Child Adolesc Psychol, 45(2), 215–226. doi:10.1080/15374416.2015.1050724.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Lee, S. J., Altschul, I., & Mowbray, C. T. (2008). Using planned adaptation to implement evidence-based programs with new populations. Am J Community Psychol, 41, 290–303. doi:10.1007/s10464-008-9160-5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Atassi, N., Yerramilli-Rao, P., Szymonifka, J., Yu, H., Kearney, M., Grasso, D., et al. (2013). Analysis of start-up, retention, and adherence in ALS clinical trials. Neurology, 81(15), 1350–1355. doi:10.1212/WNL.0b013e3182a823e0.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  34. Cobb, E. M., Meurer, W., Harney, D., Slibergleit, R., Lake, B. P., Clark, C., et al. (2015). Patient engagement in neurological clinical trials design: a conference summary. Clin Trans Sci, 8(6), 776–778. doi:10.1111/cts.12297.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA

    William T. Riley PhD

Authors
  1. William T. Riley PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to William T. Riley PhD.

Additional information

Implications

Practice: Transformational opportunities such as the merging of research into practice and planned adaptations of evidence-based interventions should provide practitioners with greater flexibility to adapt evidence-based interventions to the population, context, and resource constraints of the settings.

Policy: More rapid and readily available research findings from questions generated by policymakers and other research stakeholders should make behavioral and social sciences research more responsive to policy needs.

Research: The National Institutes of Health and the Office of Behavioral and Social Sciences research support for more rigorous and diverse methods and measures, for research designs more readily translated into practice and for continued dissemination and implementation research should facilitate the adoption of behavioral and social sciences research into practice, policy, and the broader biomedical research enterprise.

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Riley, W.T. Behavioral and Social Sciences at the National Institutes of Health: adoption of research findings in health research and practice as a scientific priority. Behav. Med. Pract. Policy Res. 7, 380–384 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13142-017-0474-4

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13142-017-0474-4

Keywords

search

Navigation