Glossary
A
AIF
Name:
Active Implementation Frameworks
Description:
A set of frameworks that define key drivers (e.g., competency, organizational, leadership) and structured implementation teams to support large-scale adoption of evidence-based practices.
Use:
Used to build capacity for large-scale implementation efforts in education, healthcare, and social services by focusing on leadership, training, and system change.
Implementation Stage:
Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment
Citation:
Fixsen et al., 2005
B
C
CAB
Community advisory board; a group of representatives from the communities of people living with HIV or affected by HIV that meet with scientists and researchers in order to promote communication that goes both ways. CABs are designed to represent the interests of diverse communities impacted by HIV and give local populations a voice in the research.
COM-B
Name:
Capability, Opportunity, Motivation – Behavior
Description:
A model that explains behavior as an interaction between three factors: capability (physical and psychological), opportunity (social and environmental), and motivation (automatic and reflective).
Use:
Used to design and evaluate interventions by diagnosing barriers and tailoring strategies to promote behavior change.
Implementation Stage:
Exploration, Preparation, Implementation
Citation:
Michie et al., 2011
CFIR
Name:
Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research
Description:
Organizes key factors influencing implementation across five domains: intervention characteristics, outer setting, inner setting, characteristics of individuals, and the implementation process.
Use:
Used for conducting formative assessments to identify barriers/facilitators, guide strategy selection, and evaluate implementation success.
Implementation Stage:
Exploration, Implementation, Sustainment
Citation:
Damschroder et al., 2009
D
DSF
Name:
Dynamic Sustainability Framework
Description:
Highlights the need for continuous adaptation and refinement of interventions to maintain effectiveness over time, recognizing that change is a central influence on sustainability and that “fit” between interventions and their delivery context is key.
Use:
Used to ensure long-term intervention sustainability by accounting for changing environments, stakeholder needs, and ongoing quality improvement.
Implementation Stage:
Sustainment
Citation:
Chambers et al., 2013
E
EHE
The Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) initiative aims to reduce HIV infections in the United States by prioritizing resources in the geographic locations that they are most needed. The goal is end the HIV epidemic by 2030.
- Diagnose: ensure that people living with HIV are diagnosed as early as possible
- Treat: enable that people living with HIV may begin ART treatment as soon as possible after diagnosis so that they may achieve viral suppression
- Prevent: reduce the number of people acquiring HIV through evidence based interventions, specifically pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and syringe services programs (SSPs)
- Respond: quickly identifying communities that are experiencing HIV outbreaks and implement strategies to reduce ongoing transmission
EHE priority jurisdiction
To achieve maximum impact, the Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative initially focuses efforts in 48 counties, Washington, DC, and San Juan, Puerto Rico, where more than 50% of HIV diagnoses occur, and an additional seven states with a substantial number of HIV diagnoses in rural areas, bringing the total number of prioritized jurisdictions to 57
ERIC
Name:
Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change
Description:
A taxonomy of 73 implementation strategies categorized into broad domains such as training, support, and organizational change.
Use:
Used for selecting and categorizing implementation strategies in healthcare and public health, helping researchers and practitioners choose the most effective strategies.
Implementation Stage:
Preparation, Implementation
Citation:
Powell et al., 2015
EPIS
Name:
Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, Sustainment
Description:
A four-phase framework that emphasizes the role of inner (organizational) and outer (policy and community) contexts in implementation success.
Use:
Used to assess the likelihood of implementation success based on evidence strength, organizational readiness, and available facilitation strategies.
Implementation Stage:
Preparation, Implementation
Citation:
Kitson et al., 1998
F
G
H
HIV Continuum targets
- HIV testing – The process of diagnosing HIV infection, typically through laboratory or rapid tests (antibody, antigen/antibody, or RNA), which is the essential first step in both preventing and treating HIV
- Linkage to preventative care – For those testing negative, this means connecting them promptly to prevention services (most commonly PrEP) especially if they display behaviors or conditions (e.g., STI, substance use) that increase HIV risk.
- PrEP initiation – When a HIV-negative individual begins a prescribed biomedical regimen (e.g., daily TDF/FTC, TAF/FTC, or injectable cabotegravir) to mitigate HIV risk.
- PrEP persistence – Sustained continuation of PrEP over time, including ongoing prescription refills, scheduled follow-ups (e.g., every 3–6 months), and continued assessment of HIV/STI status.
- HIV diagnosis – The confirmation of HIV infection via laboratory testing, marking the transition into the care continuum.
- Linkage to HIV care – Completing a first HIV medical care visit within 30 days of HIV diagnosis.
- Engagement in treatment – Ongoing active participation in HIV-focused medical care, i.e., regular clinic visits and monitoring following initial linkage.
- ART initiation – Starting antiretroviral therapy promptly after HIV diagnosis
- ART adherence – Consistent, correct intake of ART medications exactly as prescribed to achieve and maintain viral suppression while minimizing resistance.
I
Implementation outcomes
- Acceptability – the perception that an intervention is satisfactory
- Adoption – the decision to employ or engage in an intervention, “uptake”
- Appropriateness – the perceived relevance/compatibility of an intervention for a provider, patient, or specific problem
- Feasibility – the degree to which an intervention can be carried out in a specific setting
- Fidelity – the extent to which an intervention was implemented as designed
- Implementation cost – the cost of delivering an intervention
- Penetration – the integration of an intervention within a setting
- Sustainability – the extent to which an intervention is maintained with a settings ongoing operations
IRLM
Name:
Implementation Research Logic Model
Description:
A tool that visually maps out implementation determinants, strategies, and outcomes to clarify relationships in implementation research.
Use:
Used to develop structured, theory-driven logic models that guide research, strategy selection, and evaluation by specifying relationships between elements of implementation (determinants, strategies, and outcomes) and the mechanisms of change.
Implementation Stage:
Exploration, Preparation
Citation:
Smith et al., 2020
J
K
L
M
N
NPT
Name: Normalization Process Theory Description: A framework that explains how new interventions become embedded in routine practice by analyzing four key processes: coherence, cognitive participation, collective action, and reflexive monitoring. Use: Used to study intervention adoption and sustainment by examining how individuals and organizations integrate changes into daily practice. Implementation Stage: Implementation, Sustainment Citation: May & Finch, 2009O
P
PARiHS
Name: Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services Description: A framework that explains implementation as a function of evidence (research and experiential), context (organizational culture and leadership), and facilitation (support to enable change). Use: Used to assess the likelihood of implementation success based on evidence strength, organizational readiness, and available facilitation strategies. Implementation Stage: Preparation, Implementation Citation: Kitson et al., 1998Precede-Proceed
Name: Predisposing, Reinforcing, Enabling Constructs in Educational Diagnosis and Evaluation – Policy, Regulatory, and Organizational Constructs in Educational and Environmental Development Description: A planning model that integrates behavioral, environmental, and policy factors to design and evaluate public health interventions. PRECEDE provides the structure for planning a targeted and focused public health program. PROCEED provides the structure for implementing and evaluating the public health program. Use: Used in program planning to systematically identify health and social determinants, guide intervention design, and evaluate impact. Implementation Stage: Exploration, Preparation, Implementation Citation: Green & Kreuter, 2005PRISM
Name: Practical, Robust Implementation and Sustainability Model Description: Expands the RE-AIM framework by incorporating contextual factors like organizational characteristics, patient perspectives, and external environment. Use: Used for evaluating and improving intervention sustainability, considering factors at multiple levels. Implementation Stage: Implementation, Sustainment Citation: Feldstein & Glasgow, 2008Proctor’s Outcomes
Name: Proctor’s Implementation Outcomes Description: Defines eight key implementation outcomes: acceptability, adoption, appropriateness, feasibility, fidelity, cost, penetration, and sustainability. Use: Used for evaluating implementation effectiveness by providing standardized measures of success. Implementation Stage: Evaluation Citation: Proctor et al., 2011Q
QIF
Name: Quality Implementation Framework Description: A four-phase framework that outlines key steps for high-quality implementation, including initial consideration, structural support, execution, and sustainability. Use: Used to ensure high-quality implementation by providing a systematic guide to overcoming barriers, engaging stakeholders, and monitoring fidelity. Implementation Stage: Preparation, Implementation, Evaluation Citation: Meyers et al., 2012R
RE-AIM
Name: Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, Maintenance Description: A framework for evaluating public health and clinical interventions across five key dimensions: reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance. Use: Used to assess individual- and organizational-level implementation success, with a focus on real-world impact. Implementation Stage: Evaluation, Sustainment Citation: Glasgow et al., 1999S
Strategy (intervention approach)
- Service delivery: includes outreach, decentralization, mobile testing, point-of-care, navigators, service expansion, integration, home-based care, adjunctive services, and community-based care
- Infrastructure/management: includes task shifting, guidelines, health worker training, management, and leadership
- Counseling: includes counseling, patient skill development
- Social/behavioral: includes social support, peer support (community and facilitator based)
- Technology: includes electronic reminders, mhealth, and data management
- Demand creation: includes incentives, community mobilization, food supplementation, behavioral economics, health campaigns, and marketing/mass communication
Stage of implementation
- Pre-implementation – The phase focused on planning, assessment, and preparation before a program or intervention is introduced. Activities include stakeholder engagement, needs assessments, selecting implementation strategies, training, piloting, and adaptation of interventions to local context.
- Implementation – The active phase of delivering and integrating the intervention or program into the setting. This includes executing strategies, monitoring fidelity, supporting teams, and collecting data on process and outcomes.
- Sustainment – The long-term integration and continuation of the intervention with ongoing benefits, institutional support, and stable processes. Sustainment implies that the intervention becomes routine practice.
- Scale-up – The deliberate expansion of a successful program or intervention to new settings or populations, often at a regional, national, or system level. Scale-up focuses on replication with fidelity while adapting to new contexts.
T
TDF
Name:
Theoretical Domains Framework
Description:
Synthesizes 33 behavior change theories into 14 domains that influence implementation, such as knowledge, social influences, and reinforcement.
Use:
Used for identifying and addressing behavioral barriers to implementation, informing intervention design, and tailoring strategies.
Implementation Stage:
Exploration, Preparation
Citation:
Cane et al., 2012