Transitioning from the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to the updated CFIR for quantitative measurement of influences on implementation outcomes in a faith-based walking intervention

Abstract Background Our research team has used the highly cited Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) a priori throughout the research process to better understand influences on implementation outcomes of an organizational change innovation to promote physical activity and healthy eating in faith-based settings. CFIR has recently been updated to include substantial changes in some domains and constructs, and our research team is preparing to carry out a new implementation study of an evidence-based innovation in churches. The purpose of this paper is to describe the process we undertook to map CFIR domains, constructs, and quantitative measures from our earlier studies onto updated CFIR domains, constructs, and quantitative measures for the new project, providing a model for other researchers. Methods The measurement team engaged in a systematic, structured, and iterative planning process that included the key actions of clarifying the goal for the transition process from CFIR to updated CFIR, reviewing/comparing CFIR and updated CFIR domains and constructs and how they changed, segmenting the five CFIR/updated CFIR domains for discussion and structuring each discussion with handouts in an iterative process, compiling the items from each domain, obtaining and incorporating feedback on the items from community partners, and compiling the final table of items that incorporates community input. Results The culmination of our process was a table that included updated CFIR domains and subdomains, constructs, survey respondents, and the data collection timeframe (baseline, post-training, and 32 weeks). Conclusions We offer our experience as a model for other implementation science research teams who wish to transition from CFIR to updated CFIR domains, subdomains, constructs, subconstructs, and associated quantitative measures to better understand implementation outcomes.