Case study guided development of an implementation science framework and checklist for campus sexual violence intervention

Background: Campus sexual violence interventions must be scalable and effective in real-world settings. However, campus sexual violence interventions have unique implementation contexts that are not fully addressed by the most common implementation science frameworks. Hybrid studies - designs that incorporate effectiveness and implementation outcomes into a single trial - are an important tool to shorten the translation pipeline and enhance the efficacy and effectiveness of these interventions. We conducted a series of case studies to explore the applicability of the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to campus sexual violence interventions and to develop an adapted framework and checklist that could be used to advance the implementation science of campus sexual violence intervention research. Methods: We developed four case studies of campus sexual violence interventions from the United States, South Africa, and Eswatini. Two were delivered digitally (United States and Eswatini) and two in person (South Africa and Eswatini). We analyzed these cases using a comparative design guided by CFIR’s theorized constructs, aiming to identify implementation science concerns that are likely unique to CSVI research. These analyses were used to develop a CSVI-specific IS checklist and planning worksheet Results: We identified multiple cross-cutting issues unique to the implementation science of campus sexual violence interventions: The policy and legal framework, team praxis, relationships, context, infrastructure, and people. We situated these within a conceptual framework to reflect their intersections and developed a checklist of considerations at the planning, implementation, and post-project reflection phase. Conclusions: The field of sexual violence will benefit from the integration of implementation science methodologies. We found CFIR to be a useful starting point, however, it requires certain key modifications to fully support sexual violence intervention research. The adapted CFIR framework we developed from a cross-national set of case studies is a key tool to meet the needs of funders, researchers, and practitioners.