Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2024 Jul 27;14(8):472-478.
doi: 10.1093/tbm/ibae025.

Scaling and sustaining research tested interventions: Lessons learned from Rhode Island Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration 3.0

Katherine E Darling  1 , Erin Whitney Evans  1 , Anashua Rani Elwy  1 , Kelly Klinepier  2 , Elissa Jelalian  1
Affiliations

Scaling and sustaining research tested interventions: Lessons learned from Rhode Island Childhood Obesity Research Demonstration 3.0

Katherine E Darling et al. Transl Behav Med. .

Abstract

Childhood obesity is a significant health problem associated with negative physical and mental health outcomes. Although evidence-based family healthy weight programs (FHWPs), such as JOIN for ME, have been developed, there is a significant lag before these are disseminated more broadly. This study outlines the process of participating in the Speeding Research-tested Interventions (SPRINT) program, highlighting lessons learned, to increase the reach of a previously tested and efficacious FHWP, JOIN for ME. Qualitative interviews were conducted with policymakers, benefits providers, employers, philanthropists, community stakeholders, and medical providers to iteratively test the developed JOIN for ME business model and identify themes regarding effective scaling and sustainability of an evidence-based FHWP. Rapid qualitative analysis of 45 interviews identified four key themes regarding scaling of an FHWP. These were (i) virtual program delivery, (ii) focus on equity, (iii) return on investment, and (iv) tie-in to local community. The process of engaging stakeholders from multiple backgrounds is critical to refining an efficacious program to ensure scalability and sustainment. The SPRINT process allows researchers to understand the marketplace for evidence-based interventions and develop adaptations for sustaining and scaling research tested programs.

Keywords: dissemination; implementation; pediatric obesity; pediatric weight management; sustainability.

Plain language summary

There is a lengthy lag in translation of effective research tested interventions into routine clinical practice. Researchers often lack the skills needed to broadly disseminate and implement their interventions. The SPeeding Research-tested INTerventions (SPRINT) program was developed by the National Cancer Institute to reduce the research-practice gap by training behavioral scientists to develop sustainable approaches to program dissemination. This article outlines the process and outcomes of participating in the SPRINT program for researchers focused on implementation and dissemination of an evidence-based family healthy weight program, JOIN for ME. Interviews with 45 key stakeholders identified four primary themes critical to translating JOIN for ME from research into practice. These included the importance of virtual program delivery, focus on equity, return on investment, and maintaining connections with local communities. Focus on the SPRINT process highlights the pathways through which future researchers may decrease the length of time from research to practice.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Ms Klinepier is employed by UnitedHealth Group, which supported development of the JOIN for ME curriculum. All other authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Similar articles

See all similar articles

References

    1. Stierman B, Afful J, Carroll MD. et al.. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017–March 2020 Prepandemic Data Files Development of Files and Prevalence Estimates for Selected Health Outcomes. Hyattsville, MD, USA: U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics; 2021.
    1. Johnson VR, Acholonu NO, Dolan AC. et al.. Racial disparities in obesity treatment among children and adolescents. Curr Obes Rep 2021;10:342–50. 10.1007/s13679-021-00442-0 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Grossman DC, Bibbins-Domingo K, Curry SJ. et al..; US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening for obesity in children and adolescents: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. JAMA 2017;317:2417–26. 10.1001/jama.2017.6803 - DOI - PubMed
    1. Fiese BH, Team SK.. Context matters in pediatric obesity: commentary on innovative treatment and prevention programs for pediatric overweight and obesity. J Pediatr Psychol 2013;38:1037–43. - PubMed
    1. Block JP, Oken E.. Practical considerations for the US preventive services task force recommendations on obesity in children and adolescents. JAMA Intern Med 2017;177:1077–9. 10.1001/jamainternmed.2017.1978 - DOI - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources