Translation from research to practice: community dissemination of a telephone-delivered physical activity and dietary behavior change intervention

Abstract

Purpose: To describe the process of translating an evidence-based, telephone-delivered physical activity and dietary behavior change intervention from research into practice.

Design: Descriptive case study.

Setting/subjects: Nongovernment, primary medical care-based community health organization.

Intervention: Telephone-delivered intervention targeting physical activity and diet in primary medical care patients.

Measures/analysis: Systematic documentation of process outcomes related to intervention adoption and adaptation.

Results: Research-community partnerships were critical in facilitating translation, including (1) an initial competitive advantage within a State Health Department-funded preventive health initiative; (2) advocacy to ensure the adoption of the intervention, (3) subsequent support for the adaptation of program elements to ensure fit of the program with the community organization's objectives and capacities, while maintaining feasible elements of fidelity with the original evidence-based program; (4) the integration of program management and evaluation systems within the community organization; and (5) ongoing support for staff members responsible for program delivery and evaluation. Preliminary process evaluation of the Optimal Health Program supports the acceptability and feasibility of the program within community practice.

Conclusions: INTERVENTION characteristics central to adoption can be influenced by research-community partnerships. It is likely that evidence-based interventions will need to be adapted for delivery within the real world. Researchers should endeavor to provide training and support to ensure, as much as possible, fidelity with the original program, and that the relevant adaptations are evidence based.