Increasing Adoption of Comparative Effectiveness Research in Community Behavioral Health: Methodology

Increased efforts in comparative effectiveness research (CER) (comparing various health care intervention and treatment options) are being used to inform health care delivery. While CER research itself is an important step in developing best practices in health care, it is not enough to ensure success. The knowledge must also be successfully disseminated to increase adoption and implementation of practices. To ensure the greatest benefits of successful interventions, it is essential to understand which dissemination strategies are effective and under what conditions. This article provides the background and methodology used in a large-scale, 2-year study aimed at determining how knowledge gained from CER research may be most effectively disseminated to those responsible for delivering behavioral health services. The study takes an important step toward addressing the gaps in dissemination and translation of CER.