Grant: Health Sys. Impact Embedded ECR Award - Health Services, Health Systems & Policy

Evidence-based prenatal care and screening is important for the health of both parent and child, yet we know that a substantial amount of care practices across Canadian health care systems are not consistent with best available evidence. This is known as the evidence-practice gap. Implementation science is the scientific study of methods and strategies that improve the uptake of evidence-based practices thereby reducing the gap. Prenatal Screening Ontario is a new program that was created to provide a coordinated and equitable system of prenatal screening in Ontario, where a number of new prenatal screening practices will be introduced over the next five years. This research program aims to develop a culture of implementation at Prenatal Screening Ontario that is rooted in implementation science. This means that new prenatal screening practices will be introduced in Ontario using evidence-based implementation strategies and interventions, which are tailored to the needs of a diversity of patients and health care providers enhancing the implementation across Ontario. These strategies and interventions will be evaluated to continue to improve implementation and build our knowledge of what works, for whom and, under which conditions. Ontario is a leader in prenatal screening and will be the first province to implement these new screening protocols in Canada. Prenatal Screening Ontario is thus positioned to provide the foundation for equitable implementation in other provinces and has the potential to enhance access to evidence-based prenatal screening practices for all Canadians.