Implementation Barriers

Best-practice approaches for the development of strategies to improve implementation require a comprehensive understanding of implementation barriers (and facilitators). However, studies to identify barriers faced by community settings in implementing chronic disease prevention programs are uncommon.

Having a comprehensive understanding of barriers is a fundamental building block to inform implementation strategy development.  There is a need to understand what stops the evidence from being put into practice.  

 We are conducting systematic reviews of the international and Australian barriers to implementation. We are conducting national surveys to find out from those working within these settings what the barriers to implementation are. 

Our findings will help inform implementation strategies and guide future investments in chronic disease prevention programs in schools and early childhood education and care.

Research leads: Dr Serene Yoong &  Professor Luke Wolfenden. 

Barriers and facilitators influencing the sustainment of health behaviour interventions in schools and childcare services: A systematic review. Implementation Science, 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13012-021-01134-y.

Barriers and facilitators to the implementation of healthy eating, physical activity and obesity prevention policies, practices or programs in family daycare: A mixed method systematic review. Prev Med, 2022.  DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ypmed.2022.107011. Plain language summary: Factors influencing the implementation of obesity prevention programs in family day care centres.