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Page Content

Implementation Science

Advancing Evidence
into Practice

Implementation Science is a multidisciplinary field focused on closing the gap between evidence and real-world practice through research, applied work, and learning. At the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS), Implementation Research (IR) is a central component of this work, advancing the translation, adaptation, and sustainability of evidence-based interventions in diverse health system and community settings.

Advancing Evidence into Practice

Implementation Research (IR) focuses on understanding how evidence-based interventions, policies, and programs can be effectively adopted, adapted, and sustained in real-world settings. It addresses the gap between what is known to work and what is implemented in practice, particularly within complex health systems and diverse community contexts.

At the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS), IR is a core area of expertise that reflects our long-standing commitment to applied, context-responsive, and impact-driven public health research. FHS approaches IR as a practical tool for improving population health outcomes, grounded in real-world systems, policies, and communities.

Implementation Research at FHS

FHS has been engaged in IR for many years through research, applied projects, partnerships, and capacity-building initiatives. This work is rooted in the realities of health systems in Lebanon, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, and other low and middle-income and conflict affected settings.

Through its faculty, research centers, and initiatives, FHS has contributed to:

Examining barriers and facilitators to implementing evidence-based interventions

Designing and testing implementation strategies within real-world health systems

Strengthening the translation of research into policy and practice

Supporting sustainable solutions to pressing public health challenges

This work reflects FHS’s integrated approach to research, practice, and learning, where IR is not treated as an abstract discipline but as a practical tool for improving population health.

Research, Practice, and Partnerships

Implementation Research at FHS is closely linked to applied public health practice and sustained collaboration with communities, health systems, policymakers, and partner organizations. Our work emphasizes:

Context-specific and participatory approaches

Equity, ethics, and social justice

Health systems strengthening and policy relevance

Learning from implementation challenges as well as successes

Tobacco CONTROL

Bridging Evidence to Practice in Primary Health Care

Implementing Smoking Cessation Interventions in Lebanon

Funded by the U.S. National Institutes of Health - National Cancer Institute and conducted in partnership with the University of Florida, George Mason University, the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, and the American University of Beirut - Faculty of Medicine.

The study focuses on integrating evidence-based smoking cessation interventions into routine primary health care services. Using a multilevel implementation research approach, it examines provider, system, and policy-level factors that influence adoption, scalability, and sustainability in low-resource settings.

Maternal care

Transforming Care via Implementation Research

Introducing Labor Companionship in Public Hospitals

Funded by the WHO, conducted in Lebanon, Syria, and Egypt to examine the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of introducing labor companionship into public hospital maternity services.

The study employed a phased, mixed-methods design and engaged healthcare providers, hospital administrators, policymakers, and women receiving care. Findings contributed to changes in hospital practices, reorganization of shared labor spaces, and the development of WHO policy briefs and global recommendations on respectful maternity care.

Capacity Building and Learning

Professional Development

Capacity Building and Learning

In addition to research, FHS has a strong track record in capacity building related to implementation research, which has been embedded in the graduate public health curriculum for more than a decade, supporting students, professionals, and partners to develop skills in translating evidence into action.
In May 2025, FHS, through the Center for Public Health Practice (CPHP) and the Clinical Research Institute (CRI), hosted a two-day applied workshop:

“Evidence for Action: A Hands-On Approach to Implementation Research”

Developing implementation research questions and concept notes

Identifying implementation gaps in health programs and policies

Applying implementation research frameworks and study designs

Addressing ethical considerations in implementation research

Building on this experience, FHS continues to explore future professional learning and training opportunities in implementation research that respond to regional and global needs.

Future Outlook

Looking Ahead at FHS

As public health challenges grow more complex, the need for Implementation Research (IR) continues to expand. FHS remains committed to advancing this field through rigorous research, meaningful partnerships, and responsive capacity-building initiatives, positioning implementation research as a critical pillar of public health impact.

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