Can We Enhance How We Apply Implementation Science by Embedding Human Centered Design Principles?
By Tatiana Elisa Bustos, Implementation Support Consultant
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In implementation practice, we are often tasked with the job of designing programs. However, this is difficult because (a) we need to understand who needs to change and how; and (b) program design has to take into account the wider system context. This is why many programs are not designed well, and often fail. With this in mind, implementation requires a multi-level stakeholder centered perspective to better translate evidence into practice and, ultimately, improve and sustain program outcomes. But, how can this process be embedded in implementation design?
To that end, Human Centered Design Practices offer great potential in highlighting the context of systems, which can then inform implementation design of programs.
What is Human Centered Design?
Human Centered Design (HCD) is a new and innovative approach to designing and adapting evidence-based practices in a variety of settings, including health care and human services. HCD links design and adaptation with systems-level thinking, where the focus is centered on the context of individuals (e.g., intervention recipient), but also expanded to other levels surrounding them. This means that we consider the various roles embedded in the implementation system, redesigning with the individual, organization, and community context in mind. In practice, HCD engages stakeholders with the design process, approaching context with a shared lens from the individuals who make use of evidence-based practices. This may require collaboration with staff across various levels for input, refining implementation processes with ongoing feedback, or co-creating strategies that incorporate those diverse perspectives.
When applied with implementation science principles, HCD has the potential to enable program designers to:
Build relationships by co-creating integration strategies with key stakeholders
Design more effective integration strategies tailored to context
Support innovation and quality improvement of programs through iterative processes
Voice stakeholder perspectives by underlining their experiences in design
Engage stakeholders with the implementation process
Ultimately, improve translation of evidence into practice
Applying implementation science principles & human centered design practices
Theoretically, HCD is what you should use for more effective implementation. In practice, however, identifying who is involved in the “what” of complex systems can be challenging, particularly when context varies by setting. Consequently, more practitioners are making use of frameworks embedding HCD practices in tandem with implementation science that can model processes for other practitioners across diverse settings.
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