218 Assessing the research needs and opportunities of a university-based dissemination and implementation science network

Objectives/Goals: The CTSA at the University of Michigan, MICHR, has conducted a sequential mixed-methods needs assessment of a network of over 250 dissemination and implementation scientists working at the university. The purpose of this evaluation is to identify the research training needs of this network and to inform efforts to improve the networks’ productivity. Methods/Study Population: An IRB-approved sequential mixed-methods needs assessment of a network of over 250 dissemination and implementation scientists was conducted. First, surveys were sent to all members of the network using Qualtrics. This survey was designed to measure the challenges and facilitators encountered by members of this network, using response categories aligned with the Translational Science Benefits Model (Luke et al., 2018) to facilitate the identification of programmatic improvement goals. The survey also asked questions regarding network members’ training preferences, and their current plans to design specific types of implementation science clinical trials (Fortney et al., 2024). Survey respondents also indicated their availability for subsequent interviews to explore their career and training paths. Results/Anticipated Results: Surveys were sent out to over 250 individual members of the Implementation Science Network supported by MICHR. This network includes 249 U-M employees representing 44 departments or units, 7 individuals from Veterans Affairs and 16 from other Institutions, and of these 32 individuals (11%). Despite this low response rate, the results clearly indicated that accessing D&I training/educational resources, or learning about relevant measures, metrics and testable strategies was a major barrier to 71% of network members, with 61% particularly interested in training on developing and testing strategies. Most respondents (54%) reported that having more financial resources was a facilitator of their work and 62% volunteered to be interviewed about their careers. Interviews are being conducted and analyzed. Discussion/Significance of Impact: The results of this evaluation suggest dissemination and implementation scientists need more formal training programs, specifically ones focused on the selection of implementation strategies for testing in pragmatic and hybrid clinical trials. This work provides a rigorous and reproduceable methods for CTSAs to conduct needs assessments.