Original Article: Engaging in Advocacy to Promote Policy Change: Incorporating Advocacy-Informed Research and Applying the PRISM Implementation Science Model

“Engaging in Advocacy to Promote Policy Change: Incorporating Advocacy-Informed Research and Applying the PRISM Implementation Science Model.”

Jan. 2026

JGIM

Russell Glasgow, PhD, Research Professor of Family Medicine at CU Anschutz, co-authored an Journal of General Internal Medicine (JGIM) publication titled “Engaging in Advocacy to Promote Policy Change: Incorporating Advocacy-Informed Research and Applying the PRISM Implementation Science Model.”

From the article:

“In prior work, we developed a model that breaks down the complex process of advocacy into distinct components—levels, settings, and advocacy strategies—serving as both a practical guide for planning advocacy efforts and equipping clinicians with advocacy strategies to drive policy change13. Recognizing that AIR promotes effective advocacy, this manuscript aims to expand our original advocacy model to include [advocacy-informed research] AIR. Second, we apply the Practical Robust Implementation and Sustainability Model (PRISM), a widely used implementation science model, to implement the advocacy model. PRISM was selected for its emphasis on equity, multi-level and multi-sector community perspectives, and the external environment (e.g., public opinion, awareness), making it well-suited for planning, implementing, and evaluating advocacy in diverse, real-world settings. The objectives of this manuscript are to (1) summarize the expanded advocacy model to include AIR (2) apply the PRISM to implement the advocacy model; and (3) provide a practical example to illustrate this application.

Our team engaged in identifying the relevant policies and change processes, which informed the development of a policy brief synthesizing evidence on the impact of emergency dialysis on patient outcomes. This brief delineated the specific Emergency Medicaid policy changes required and provided actionable recommendations to policymakers and decision-makers. After clarifying the policy pathways, we focused on understanding the relationships that influence decision-making. To achieve this, one can employ power mapping—a visual political and social science tool designed to reveal underlying power structures. Power mapping organizes key actors, including decision-makers, affected communities, and involved organizations, along two dimensions: their level of influence and their alignment with the proposed policy change. This approach enables advocates to identify strategic relationships, understand how power is distributed, and leverage these dynamics to advance policy reform. Our team’s advocacy efforts grew our coalition, resulting in several policy changes that expanded healthcare benefits."

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