Adapting evidence-informed population health interventions for new contexts: a scoping review of current practice

Movsisyan, Ani, Arnold, Laura, Copeland, Lauren ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0387-9607, Evans, Rhiannon ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0239-6331, Littlecott, Hannah, Moore, Graham ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6136-3978, O’Cathain, Alicia, Pfadenhauer, Lisa, Segrott, Jeremy ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6215-0870 and Rehfuess, Eva 2021. Adapting evidence-informed population health interventions for new contexts: a scoping review of current practice. Health Research Policy and Systems 19 , 13. 10.1186/s12961-020-00668-9

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Abstract

Background Implementing evidence-informed population health interventions in new contexts often requires adaptations. While the need to adapt interventions to better fit new contexts is recognised, uncertainties remain regarding why and when to adapt (or not), and how to assess the benefits (or not) of adaptation. The ADAPT Study aims to develop comprehensive guidance on adaptation. This scoping review informs guidance development by mapping and exploring how adaptation has been undertaken in practice, in public health and health services research. Methods We searched seven databases from January 2000 and October 2018 to identify eligible studies for this scoping review and a related systematic review of adaptation guidance. We mapped the studies of adaptation by coding data from all eligible studies describing the methods, contexts, and interventions considered for adaptation. From this map, we selected a sample of studies for in-depth examination. Two reviewers extracted data independently into seven categories: description, key concepts, types, rationale, processes, evaluation methods, evaluation justification, and accounts of failures and successes. Results We retrieved 6694 unique records. From 429 records screened at full text, we identified 298 eligible studies for mapping and selected 28 studies for in-depth examination. The majority of studies in our map focused on micro- (i.e., individual-) level interventions (84%), related to transferring an intervention to a new population group within the same country (62%) and did not report using guidance (73%). Studies covered a range of topic areas, including health behaviour (24%), mental health (19%), sexual health (16%), and parenting and family-centred interventions (15%). Our in-depth analysis showed that adaptation is seen to save costs and time relative to developing a new intervention, and to enhance contextual relevance and cultural compatibility. It commonly follows a structured process and involves stakeholders to help with decisions on what to adapt, when, and how. Conclusions Adaptation has been undertaken on a range of health topics and largely in line with existing guidance. Significant gaps relate to adaptation of macro- (e.g., national-) level interventions, consideration of programme theories, mechanisms and contexts (i.e., a functional view of interventions), nuances around stakeholder involvement, and evaluation of the adapted interventions.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Medicine Social Sciences (Includes Criminology and Education) Development and Evaluation of Complex Interventions for Public Health Improvement (DECIPHer) Centre for Trials Research (CNTRR)
Additional Information:	This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Publisher:	BioMed Central
ISSN:	1478-4505
Funders:	Wellcome Trust
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	15 January 2021
Date of Acceptance:	6 December 2020
Last Modified:	26 Jul 2024 17:24
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/137718

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