What constitutes risk in implementation research? Perspectives from a qualitative key-informant study

Greater clarity is needed to guide ethical review, particularly regarding implementation strategy-related risks and the responsibilities of researchers for intervention-related harms. We recommend that implementation researchers begin systematically documenting and publishing on unintended harms related to implementation strategies, and that the field invest in building ethical frameworks and training specific to these challenges. Without such efforts, implementation science risks undermining the very systems and communities it seeks to improve.