The REVERSE Project demonstrated its commitment to advancing implementation science at the 4th IMPACT Conference in Zurich, featuring leadership from Lauren Clack as co-chair and a new framework for ongoing tailoring presented by Kathin Blum.

Last month, the implementation science community convened at the University of Zurich for the 4th Swiss Implementation Science / IMPACT Conference. The event focused on enhancing the methodological quality and real-world utility of implementation reseach, aims that sit at the very core of the REVERSE Project. 

Driving the Academic Agenda

Lauren Clack (Lead of Work Package 5) served as the conference co-chair, with her involvement underscoring REVERSE's role in shaping the European implementation discourse and ensuring that antimicrobial stewardship remains a focal point of international methodological discussions.

From Static to Dynamic: the Evolution of Tailoring

A significant highlight of the scientific programme were the poster presentations. Kathrin Blum showcased her poster on REVERSE entitled "Developing a framework for ongoing tailoring and its monitoring in healthcare: Insights from a systamatic review" 

While traditional implementation often treats tailoring (the process of aligning strategies to a specific context) as a discrete, pre-implmentation phase, Blum's research challenges this static model. Recognising that healthcare environments are inherently dynamic, her work addresses the heterogeneity of current practises and the lack of clarity regarding how strategies should be reviewed over time. 

A New Conceptual Foundation

Drawing on a systematic review of over 5000 records, Blum and the team identified 18 key empirical studies to develop a robust, four-step framework for Ongoing Tailoring (OT):

• Identification of Determinants: Continual assessment of shifting barriers and facilitators.
• Strategy Selection: Alligning implementation interventions with the identified context.
• Continuous Monitoring: Integrating data-informed oversight into the implementation process.
• Structure Decision-making: Utiising monitoring data to trigger replicable adaptations.

Impact for REVERSE

For the REVERSE project, this framework offers a siginificant conceptual contribution to the methodology underpinning Work Package 5. By moving towards a model of 'data-informed and context-sensitive reconsideration', the research provides a strucutred approach to ensure implementation strategies remains resilient as clinical environments evolve. This systematic lens on adaptation is intended to support long-term sustainability of the project's interventions by making them more responsive to real-world complexitites.

The conference also provided a valuable opportunity for the REVERSE team to engage with international peers, fostering the professional exchange necessary to bridge the gap between implementation theory and impactful clinical practice. 

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