Evaluating the Translation of the Adapted Physical Activity Program into the Acquired Brain Injury Translational Rehabilitation Service: Application of the RE-AIM Framework

About the Project

Project aims and objective:

Translational research is required to address the 17 year theory to practice gap for the benefit of patient care and health-care investment. The RE-AIM Framework (Reach, Efficacy, Adoption, Implementation and Maintenance) is demonstrated to be an effective means of evaluating the translation of evidence-based interventions into clinical practice. The aim of this project is to evaluate the translation of the Adapted Physical Activity Program (APAP) into the Acquired Brain Injury Transitional Rehabilitation Service (ABI-TRS). The applicability and benefit of APAP for ABITRS clients, the cost and resources required for implementation and the factors influencing organisational maintenance of the intervention will be determined through evaluation of patient charts spanning a 6-month period and semi-structured interviews with ABI-TRS clients and clinical and management staff.

Expected outcome:

The outcomes of this project include:

1.       the development of a sustainable Clinical Exercise Physiology service provision model for adults with brain injury, that can be integrated into an existing multidisciplinary practice; and

2.       a framework for translation of interventions demonstrated to be effective in a research setting into clinical practice that can be applied to varying health conditions and health behaviours.

The outcomes of this project provide a lessons learnt model to allow for the effective translation of research evidence and/or best practice models from research journals into established clinical models in a way that is sustainable and maximises the existing resources of the organisation. Additionally, the project utilises a theoretical framework for evaluating the translation of interventions into clinical practice, that moves beyond the assessment of the efficacy of the intervention program to include participation rates and representativeness of the settings, the consistency with which the different intervention components are delivered, the long-term outcomes on beneficiaries and whether the program is retained or becomes an integrated component of the service. In short the service implementation factors that influence the translation of research into clinical practice.

Project Status:

The project commenced in 2018 and is at research translation, publication and distribution of findings stage.

Project Funding:

This project is funded by a Hopkins Centre Seed Grant and the Motor Accident Insurance Commission (MAIC).

The project is proudly supported by Griffith University; Acquired Brain Injury Transitional Rehabilitation Service; the Division of Rehabilitation at Princess Alexandra Hospital, Metro South Hospital and Health Service; University of Queensland; and The University of British Columbia

Research Team: 

Kelly Clanchy – The Hopkins Centre and Menzies Health Institute Queensland, Griffith University (LINK PROFILES)

Areti Kennedy - Acquired Brain Injury Transitional Rehabilitation Service, Princess Alexandra Hospital (LINK PROFILES)

Sarah Jeffery - Acquired Brain Injury Transitional Rehabilitation Service, Princess Alexandra Hospital

Sean Tweedy - School of Human Movement and Nutritional Sciences, University of Queensland

Heather Gainforth - Faculty of Health and Social Development, School of Health and Exercise Sciences, The University of British Columbia