Translating evidence-based interventions for implementation: Experiences from Project HEAL in African American churches.

Cheryl L Holt,Janice Bowie,Tony Whitehead,Erin K Tagai,Mary Ann Scheirer,Muhiuddin Haider,Min Qi Wang,Jimmie L Slade,Sherie Lou Z Santos

doi:10.1186/1748-5908-9-66

Abstract

BackgroundCommunity-based approaches have been increasing in the effort to raise awareness and early detection for cancer and other chronic disease. However, many times, such interventions are tested in randomized trials, become evidence-based, and then fail to reach further use in the community. Project HEAL (Health through Early Awareness and Learning) is an implementation trial that aims to compare two strategies of implementing evidence-based cancer communication interventions in African American faith-based organizations.MethodThis article describes the community-engaged process of transforming three evidence-based cancer communication interventions into a coherent, branded strategy for training community health advisors with two delivery mechanisms. Peer community health advisors receive training through either a traditional classroom approach (with high technical assistance/support) or a web-based training portal (with low technical assistance/support).ResultsWe describe the process, outline the intervention components, report on the pilot test, and conclude with lessons learned from each of these phases. Though the pilot phase showed feasibility, it resulted in modifications to data collection protocols and team and community member roles and expectations.ConclusionsProject HEAL offers a promising strategy to implement evidence-based interventions in community settings through the use of technology. There could be wider implications for chronic disease prevention and control.

Highlights

Introduces Project Health through Early Awareness and Learning (HEAL) and discusses the study background, spiritually-based health education, and the role of the Community Health Advisor (CHA).2
Dissemination/implementation research It is well-documented in cancer control and other areas, that a significant gap exists between research and practice [7]
Due to the need to close the gap between research and practice [7], the promising role that peer educators can play in dissemination [9], and the potential for technology to increase the reach of evidencebased interventions [29,32], we aimed to determine feasibility of a technology-based approach to training CHAs

Summary

Introduction

Introduces Project HEAL and discusses the study background, spiritually-based health education, and the role of the Community Health Advisor (CHA).2. Provides information about breast cancer, risk factors and symptoms, screening tests, and treatment options. Provides information about colorectal cancer, risk factors and symptoms, screening tests, and treatment options. Community-based approaches have been increasing in the effort to raise awareness and early detection for cancer and other chronic disease Many times, such interventions are tested in randomized trials, become evidence-based, and fail to reach further use in the community. Faithbased settings have been established as an effective community venue to reach underserved populations with health information [2,3,4,5,6] Many times, such interventions are tested in randomized trials, become evidence-based, and fail to reach further implementation [7]. Interventions that involve community stakeholders as true partners [8] and that are designed for broader implementation [10] are more likely to be disseminated/implemented, and intervention research should be guided by theory

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