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. 2023 May 31:4:26334895231177474.
doi: 10.1177/26334895231177474. eCollection 2023 Jan-Dec.

Implementation science in plain language: The use of nonjargon terms to facilitate collaboration

Shannon Dorsey  1 , Clara Johnson  1 , Caroline Soi  1 , Rosemary D Meza  1 , Kathryn Whetten  2 , Anne Mbwayo  3
Affiliations

Implementation science in plain language: The use of nonjargon terms to facilitate collaboration

Shannon Dorsey et al. Implement Res Pract. .

Abstract

Background: Interdisciplinary collaboration and stakeholder engagement are key ingredients in implementation science research. However, effective and efficient collaboration can be limited by the complexity of implementation science terms. In this article, we argue that the development and use of plain language implementation science terms is an essential step to facilitate collaboration and engagement.

Method: We present an example of plain language development to portray the process and the potential benefits plain language can have on implementation science research. Implementation scientists and intervention experts codeveloped plain language implementation terms as a part of an implementation-effectiveness trial in western Kenya and in preparation for a stakeholder collaborative design meeting.

Results: The developed plain language terms facilitated wider stakeholder understanding and integration of implementation science findings that could inform the design of a stakeholder-led implementation coaching program.

Conclusions: We encourage the use of the plain language terms presented in this article, further translation, and additional development of other plain language terms for implementation science constructs.

Keywords: coaching; collaboration; global; plain language; stakeholder; task shifting.

Plain language summary

Implementation science jargon can limit research collaborations with community and research partners. This article describes the importance of using plain language in implementation research and provides readers with an example of plain language terms used in a global implementation research project. We encourage implementation scientists and practitioners to use plain language when describing implementation science constructs to improve research and practice collaboration.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author(s) declared the following potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. Dorsey is an international Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) trainer, the intervention on which Pamoja Tunaeza was based and has received compensation for TF-CBT training and consultation. Dorsey and Whetten have been PIs on grants focused on testing TF-CBT. The authors declare no other conflicts of interest.

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