[Bridging the know-do gap: Implementation approaches to complex family interventions].

Background: The introduction of complex family interventions poses a challenge since they consist of various interacting components which affect multiple players and often require changes in behaviour and work processes. Implementation success is strongly influenced by environmental factors. The comprehensive implementation of complex interventions therefore needs a deliberate and systematic implementation process, including its evaluation. Implementation science offers a variety of theories and methods to support the integration and evaluation of complex family health interventions in real-world settings, requiring a broad spectrum of knowledge and skills for clinicians and researchers alike. Hence, specific examples may be relevant to both clinicians and researchers who wish to systematically address know-do gaps in clinical practice.

Aim: The aim is to describe and illustrate how complex family interventions can be systematically designed, evaluated and implemented using implementation science frameworks and methods by drawing on two research projects - namely the Family Support in Intensive Care Units (FICUS) and Bereavement Support for Families (B4F).

Methodical steps to implementation: Five steps were used to implement and evaluate the interventions across both research projects: 1) engaging key persons and families, 2) identifying gaps in care and developing/adapting the intervention, 3) understanding the implementation context, 4) tailoring implementation approaches, and 5) evaluating implementation progress and success.

Discussion and conclusion: The five illustrated steps allow for a theory-guided but nevertheless pragmatic approach in the implementation of complex family interventions. This approach may serve as a guide to integrate complex interventions and evidence-based practices into routine care and to close know-do gaps.