Dissemination and diffusion of research to address the opioid crisis in justice settings: a Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network (JCOIN) case study

Background The Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network (JCOIN), an initiative led by the National Institute on Drug Abuse since 2019, aims to improve outcomes for individuals with opioid use disorder in criminal justice settings. To increase the use of research findings in justice and health settings, the Dissemination and Stakeholder Engagement Core of JCOIN’s Coordination and Translation Center crafted a unique and dynamic process to translate and disseminate research to practice organizations in parallel to clinical research studies. Methods This study illustrates JCOIN’s multi-prong diffusion and dissemination framework using both qualitative data and implementation indicators to assess reach, engagement, and effectiveness of the efforts. Investigators interviewed 44 participants and tracked engagement data from 17,737 adopters and 75 intermediary organizations that participated in 125 defined events. Participants included representatives from justice systems, health systems, community services, government, and people with lived experience (PWLE). Thematic analysis was used to identify recurring themes, while engagement metrics assessed the reach of knowledge translation products and activities. Investigators followed the Standards for Reporting Qualitative Research (SRQR) to increase the quality and transparency of this research. Results The framework includes the identification of priority adopters of research, social system optimization, co-production with community members, and targeted knowledge translation and dissemination. The process guided the creation and distribution of 168 knowledge translation products and engaged 17,737 practitioners and stakeholders throughout a five-year period in the dissemination process. Findings illustrate the benefits of the framework in making new science more accessible to practitioners and potential adopters, as well as reducing the research and practice gap. Conclusion This study provides insights for improving the translation and implementation of new research to priority adopters across diverse settings. The study highlights the importance of moving beyond passive approaches and emphasizes the need for purposeful dissemination and diffusion strategies to ensure findings reach and benefit intended practitioners. The findings underscore the value of an “activated diffusion” model that prioritizes building relationships with key adopters and intermediary organizations, and the co-production of knowledge translation materials to expand the reach and benefit for intended practitioners.