Publications

Implementation Strategies for Knowledge Products in Primary Health Care: Systematic Review of Systematic Reviews

When health knowledge products are misused—either too much or too little—the entire system wastes resources, including in primary care. This study explores which products are actually applied, how they are applied, and what impacts are measured.
November 10, 2025

In 2022, the article Implementation “Strategies for Knowledge Products in Primary Health Care: Systematic Review of Systematic Reviews” was published. Several members of our unit are part of the team that wrote it.

  • Claude Bernard Uwizeye
  • Hervé Tchala Vignon Zomahoun
  • André Bussières
  • Aliki Thomas
  • Dahlia Kairy
  • José Massougbodji
  • Nathalie Rheault
  • Sébastien Tchoubi
  • Leonel Philibert
  • Serigne Abib Gaye
  • Lobna Khadraoui
  • Ali Ben Charif
  • Ella Diendéré
  • Léa Langlois
  • Michèle Dugas
  • France Légaré

Uwizeye CB, Zomahoun HTV, Bussières A, Thomas A, Kairy D, Massougbodji J, Rheault N, Tchoubi S, Philibert L, Gaye SA, Khadraoui L, Ben Charif A, Diendéré E, Langlois L, Dugas M, Légaré F. Implementation Strategies for Knowledge Products in Primary Health Care: Systematic Review of Systematic Reviews. Interactive Journal of Medical Research. 2022 Jul 11; DOI: 10.2196/38419

Context

Inappropriate use of knowledge products in health—whether underuse or overuse—leads to resource waste, including in primary care. This study aimed to better understand which knowledge products are frequently implemented, what strategies are used for their implementation in primary care, and what outcomes are measured.

Method

The authors conducted a systematic review of systematic reviews using an appropriate methodology. The review covered all primary care contexts, health professionals, patients, any effective implementation strategy related to care practices and organization, and any implementation outcome based on Proctor’s framework. Several relevant databases were searched.

Results

58% of included reviews focused solely on health professionals. Most reviews addressed a single type of knowledge product, mainly clinical practice guidelines (46%) or management, behavioral, or pharmacological interventions (43%). Implementation strategies were mostly mixed (83%), with a strong presence of educational strategies (meetings, material distribution, targeted training), reminders, and feedback. Adoption of knowledge products was the most frequently measured outcome (89%).

Conclusion

Clinical practice guidelines and management, behavioral, or pharmacological interventions are the most frequently implemented knowledge products in primary care. Their implementation relies on mixed strategies, mainly educational, reminders, and feedback. Rigorous methodology is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of these strategies and the full range of implementation outcomes.