Bridging the Research-to-Practice Gap: The Individual Placement and Support Model.

Abstract

The Research-to-Practice Gap often hinders the translation of effective healthcare interventions from clinical trials to routine care. Individual Placement and Support (IPS), an evidence-based practice designed to help individuals with mental health conditions achieve and maintain employment, has notably bridged this gap. Unlike many interventions that struggle with widespread implementation, IPS has successfully scaled to over 2,000 programs across all U.S. states and 30 other countries. This paper examines the strategies that have facilitated the rapid and extensive adoption of IPS, offering insights into best practices for integrating randomized controlled trial (RCT) findings into everyday clinical settings. Key factors contributing to the success of IPS include conducting RCTs in settings with real-world patients and clinicians, fostering collaboration through the International IPS Learning Community, developing comprehensive implementation materials and a dynamic fidelity scale, and engaging in regular, systematic meetings with stakeholders such as providers, advocates, and policymakers. These approaches have ensured that IPS remains adaptable, responsive to patient needs, and maintains fidelity to its core principles while promoting continuous improvement. The experience with IPS underscores the importance of integrating real-world evidence with clinical practice through ongoing collaboration among all stakeholders. The principles underpinning IPS-real-world application, stakeholder engagement, and adaptability-provide a model that could guide future efforts to close the research-to-practice gap across diverse healthcare settings and interventions.