Researchers generally do an excellent job tracking the scientific impacts of their scholarship in ways that are relevant for academia (e.g., publications, grants) but too often neglect to focus on broader impacts on population health and equity. The National Cancer Institute’s Implementation Science Centers in Cancer Control (ISC3) includes 7 P50 Centers that are interested in broad measures of impact. We provide an overview of the approach underway within the ISC3 consortium to identify health and social impacts.

ISC3 adapted and applied the Translational Science Benefits Model (TSBM) to identify the impact on the discipline of D&I science and to consider dissemination and implementation (D&I) impacts in the four original TSBM domains: (1) clinical; (2) community; (3) economic; and (4) policy. To collect data from all Centers, we: (1) co-developed a set of detailed impact indicators with examples; (2) created a data collection template; and (3) summarized the impact data from each center.

Based on data from 48 ISC3 pilot studies, cores, or consortium activities, we identified 84 distinct benefits. The most common impacts were shown for implementation science (43%), community (28%), and clinical (18%). Frequent audiences included primary care providers, public health practitioners, and community partners. ISC3 members highlighted the need for product feedback, and storytelling assistance to advance impact.

The ISC3 consortium is using a participatory approach to successfully apply the TSBM, thus seeking to maximize the real-world impacts of D&I science. The D&I field needs to prioritize ways to more fully document and communicate societal impacts.

Psychiatric services are under increasing pressure to provide effective patient care with diminishing resources. In NHS Lothian, there is a sector-based model and chronic issues with lack of inpatient beds.

We aim to examine the admission to discharge process at the Royal Edinburgh Hospital (REH) for patients within the North-West sector of Edinburgh (NW) to identify areas for improvement.

We collected data for NW admissions and discharges from the five General Adult Psychiatry wards in REH in 2023, two of which are allocated NW wards.

Admissions to the Intensive Psychiatric Care Unit were excluded as they indicated differing severity, and discharges via the ‘long-stay’ ward were excluded due to other factors delaying discharge.

Data was collected from NHS Lothian Analytical Services and anonymised in line with NHS Information Governance Policy.

Qualitative data was collected anonymously from staff within NHS Lothian in the form of an online questionnaire to identify strengths and weaknesses of the current processes.

In 2023 there were 133 discharges of NW patients in REH. The average age was 39 years old and most common diagnosis was a psychotic illness (36%).

Qualitative data identified that admitting patients to hospital is increasingly challenging due to capacity issues and the lack of a community transfer plan.

53% of NW patients were admitted to NW wards. 27% of patients were moved between wards during their admission.

Length of stay (LOS) and readmission rates were used as proxy measures to examine patient outcomes. Patients who remained on the same ward during their admission had an average LOS of 28 days. 22% were re-admitted within the calendar year. Outcomes were no better when patients remained on their sector ward.

Patients who moved ward during their admission to hospital had an average LOS of 47 days. 45% were re-admitted.

A lack of bed capacity is having a negative impact on patient care in NHS Lothian. Staff expressed concerns about the admission process and patients are moving wards during acute episodes of care to accommodate a sector-based model and chronic lack of capacity. Lack of continuity during admissions may be contributing to longer admissions and more re-admissions, further impacting on capacity.

A review of the strategic planning of NHS Lothian Psychiatric care is required, including capacity planning, admission protocols and policies on boarding patients. We will disseminate these results to support this process and any future work into this topic.