Implementation of a national policy for improving health and social care: a comparative case study using the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research.

Comprehensive health policies aiming to address wicked problems have better chances of succeeding if the implementation includes assessments of the target organizations' implementation capacity as well as the implicit quid pro quos involved in policy development. Special attention is warranted regarding the use of financial incentives when dealing with wicked problems since the complexity makes it difficult to align incentives with the goals and to assess potential consequences. Other important aspects in the implementation of such policies are the use of collaborative approaches to engage stakeholders with differing perspectives, and the tailoring of policy communication to facilitate shared understanding and commitment.