Implementing evidence in local and global contexts.

Abstract

The notion of context, while underpinning everything that we do in health care, remains something that is difficult to define; however, it determines the success or failure of everything that we do, particularly in the global healthcare arena. Whether we consider context as an objective or subjective construct, it should influence every evidence-based decision we make as healthcare professionals. Methods developed as part of the implementation science movement, including realist synthesis and 'mindlines', emphasize the important of addressing social, cultural and environmental context-specific influences when considering the implementation of complex interventions, particularly in diverse populations. The Joanna Briggs Institute evidence-based clinical fellowship program empowers practitioners, through education, to implement evidence into their own practice areas, taking into account the key variables that impact on successful adoption.