Five years of the Implementation Research Logic Model: a citation analysis and systematic scoping review of its use in implementation research and practice

The Implementation Research Logic Model (IRLM) was developed to enhance the rigor, transparency, and reproducibility of implementation research by integrating key elements of implementation research and practice—contextual factors/determinants, implementation strategies, mechanisms, and implementation and health outcomes—into a unified framework. Since its publication in 2020, the IRLM has been widely applied to plan, evaluate, and communicate implementation research. This paper synthesizes diverse IRLM use cases to advance its application and accelerate discovery in implementation science.

We conducted a citation analysis and systematic scoping review to assess the uptake, application, and adaptation of the IRLM. A forward citation search identified 331 citing articles, and a scoping review identified 124 additional studies using other logic models. Articles were coded for IRLM use, phase of application, construct linking, data sources, community engagement, and framework integration. Descriptive statistics and thematic/pattern analysis were used to summarize findings.

Of the 331 citing articles, 118 included a completed IRLM. Most were used during the planning phase (68%), with fewer applied to executing (6%), reporting (22%), or synthesis (4%). The IRLM was cited across diverse disciplines and countries, but few studies used it across multiple phases or reported its use in reporting or synthesis. Only 14% demonstrated comprehensive causal logic linking across core elements. In contrast, other logic models often lacked integration of implementation-specific constructs. Community and partner engagement was reported in 61% of studies.

The IRLM can be a valuable tool for the field of implementation science but remains underutilized across the phases of implementation research with inconsistent applications of the recommendations from the 2020 article. Enhancing guidance on construct linking, strategy mechanisms, and partner engagement may improve its utility and impact in advancing equitable and rigorous implementation efforts.