The Standards for Reporting Implementation Studies (StaRI) initiative offers a checklist to encourage transparent and accurate reporting of implementation studies. Following extensive work by an international team of implementation experts, led by Professors Hilary Pinnock and Steph Taylor of the Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research Methodology platform, these new guidelines have just been published.
Implementation studies develop and evaluate strategies for embedding evidence-based interventions in real-world practice. This is often a complex process, as it is likely that the new intervention will need to be incorporated within and change existing frameworks of care. The key elements of the intervention and the strategy need to be identified, the process by which they may be expected to work described, and measurable implementation and health outcomes defined.
StaRI does not only provide guidance on reporting research findings. The over-arching concept of distinguishing between the evidence-based intervention and the strategies used to embed the intervention in the healthcare system will inform the design of implementation initiatives whether as part of implementation research or as a service improvement. StaRI has messages for healthcare professionals and managers as well as applied researchers.
There are well established reporting guidelines for many other types of study – such as the CONSORT statement for reporting randomised trials, or PRISMA statement for reporting systematic reviews. The new StaRI statement joins these, offering implementation scientists an easy-to-follow checklist to improve quality and standardisation of reporting. Details are available on the EQUATOR network website, and the full statement is published in the BMJ.
Adoption of StaRI will improve the reporting of implementation studies, potentially facilitating translation of research into practice and improving the health of individuals and populations. [BMJ 2017;356:i6795]
Cite the guidelines
Pinnock H, Barwick M, Carpenter CR, Eldridge S, Grandes G, Griffiths CJ, Rycroft-Malone J, Meissner P, Murray E, Patel A, Sheikh A, Taylor SJC, for the StaRI group. Standards for Reporting Implementation Studies (StaRI) statement. BMJ. 2017;356:i6795.
Read more
- Read the full Standards for Reporting Implementation Studies (StaRI) Statement in the BMJ
- Explanation and Elaboration document in the BMJ
- Download the Data Supplement Appendix 2 from the BMJ: Version of StaRI Checklist for completion by authors submitting an implementation paper
- See the StaRI statement (alongside other reporting guidelines) on the EQUATOR network
- Read more about out Methodology platform of the Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research