Definitions of implementation research outcomes
| Outcome | Definition |
| Acceptability | The perception among implementation stakeholders (beneficiaries and implementers) that the innovation is agreeable, palatable or satisfactory. |
| Adoption | The intention, initial decision or action to try or employ the innovation (ie, uptake). |
| Appropriateness | The perceived fit, relevance or compatibility of the innovation for a given practice setting, provider, or beneficiary; and/or perceived fit of the innovation to address a particular issue or problem (therapeutic use of hydroxyurea for sickle cell disease). |
| Cost | (Incremental or implementation cost) is defined as the cost impact of an implementation effort. |
| Feasibility | The extent to which the innovation can be successfully used or carried out within a given agency or setting. |
| Fidelity | Degree to which the innovation can be implemented as it was prescribed in the original protocol or as it was intended by the programme developer. |
| Penetration | The integration of a practice within a service setting and its subsystems. |
| Sustainability | The extent to which a newly implemented innovation is maintained or institutionalised within a service setting’s ongoing, stable operations. |
Based on types of outcomes in implementation research reported within Proctor et al’s taxonomy for implementation outcomes (Proctor et al).21