Methods Core

A transdisciplinary approach blending methods from a range of disciplines is needed to produce the evidence required to broadly scale evidence-based interventions to improve physical health and reduce premature mortality among individuals with serious mental illness (SMI). The Methods Core leverages the collective expertise of a diverse group of researchers including leading experts in implementation science, clinical research, biostatistics, epidemiology, behavioral science, organizational behavior, quality improvement, health services and policy research, systems science, and cost effectiveness research. The Methods Core is designed to facilitate synergies across these disciplines to support rigorous development, adaptation, and evaluation of interventions to reduce premature mortality among individuals with SMI and implementation strategies to bring those interventions to scale. Led by Drs. Elizabeth Stuart and Beth McGinty, the Methods Core will leverage the study team’s deep and broad transdisciplinary expertise and take full advantage of the resources at Johns Hopkins to ensure comprehensive operational support across the Center’s research projects. The Core will provide leadership and support for all methodological aspects of Center research, including design, implementation strategy development, measurement, and analysis. In addition, the Core will develop innovative methodological approaches that will inform translation of evidence-based interventions to improve physical health among people with SMI. These innovations are a hallmark of the Johns Hopkins ALACRITY Center that will continue in this renewal. The Methods Core includes four Aims. First, to provide comprehensive operational support for Center research projects via seven Sub-Cores focused on partner engagement; intervention development and adaptations; implementation strategy development; measurement of implementation outcomes; recruitment and data collection; data management and analysis; and healthcare policy and systems science. Second, to advance innovative methods supporting scale-up of evidence-based interventions to improve physical health and reduce premature mortality among people with SMI. These four projects will a) develop a policy implementation measurement framework; b) apply new methods to identify core components of interventions and implementation strategies; c) refine methods to improve precision and robustness in implementation trials; and d) build methods for “hybrid” systems science models in implementation science. Third, to broadly disseminate the Center’s methodological advances through scientific publications, trainings, web tutorials, and other avenues. Fourth, to support the Administrative Core in evaluating the Center’s productivity and impact. Overall, the Methods Core will support ambitious and innovative implementation research projects like those proposed in the signature R01 project and R34s and contribute key methods advances to support the scale-up of effective interventions to reduce premature mortality and advance overall health in persons with SMI.