Efficient translation of clinical trial results into practice is an enduring challenge in critical care, with many critically ill patients not receiving evidence-based therapies proven to save lives. One approach to speed the translation of clinical trial evidence into practice is through qualitative research to better understand the barriers to evidence-based care and help design innovative interventions to overcome those barriers.. This work need not wait until the clinical trial is complete—an emerging literature highlights the value of qualitative research concurrent with the conduct of a clinical trial. Such research has several potential benefits, including facilitating implementation of the intervention in the real world, identifying the potential mechanism of action, and identifying contextual factors necessary for the treatments effectiveness.