A sense of scale: Exploring ways to implement effective prevention

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Start Date
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Evidence-based chronic disease prevention initiatives need to be implemented at a population level (‘at scale’) to maximise their benefits. However, little evidence is available to guide policy makers and practitioners in scaling up projects in key community settings such as childcare services, schools, workplaces or sporting clubs – the places with access to large numbers of children or adults, often for long periods, where prevention initiatives may be implemented.
Without implementation at scale, effective health promoting interventions are unable to benefit public health. Implementing interventions at scale is recommended internationally, and is included in chronic disease prevention strategies across the globe.
Introduction
This project has highlighted the need to use comprehensive evaluation frameworks in existing and future prevention programs in community settings. It highlighted serious evidence gaps in our understanding of the use of implementation strategies to scale up prevention interventions. There is a need for coordinated research investment to fill these gaps, and for greater standardisation of implementation methods and processes.
Featured project resources
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Ways to scale interventions in the community
Resource category:Findings Brief
Date
About
The effectiveness of strategies to scale the implementation of community chronic disease interventions
Project titleWhat is the issue?
Evidence-based chronic disease prevention initiatives need to be implemented at a population level (‘at scale’) to maximise their benefits. However, little evidence is available to guide policy makers and practitioners in scaling up projects in key community settings such as childcare services, schools, workplaces or sporting clubs – the places with access to large numbers of children or adults, often for long periods, where prevention initiatives may be implemented.
Without implementation at scale, effective health promoting interventions are unable to benefit public health. Implementing interventions at scale is recommended internationally, and is included in chronic disease prevention strategies across the globe.
How did the project address the issue?
This project sought to address the need for an up-to-date, comprehensive synthesis of strategies to implement chronic disease prevention programs, practices or policies, and particularly those conducted at scale.
The team conducted a series of systematic reviews of trials assessing the impact of strategies to implement policies, practices or programs targeting smoking, nutrition, alcohol, physical activity or obesity, implemented in childcare services, schools, workplaces and sporting clubs. These reviews, to be published by the Cochrane Collaboration, aimed to identify the:
- Effectiveness of implementation support strategies (such as training, performance feedback, opinion leaders, etc) in improving the implementation of setting-based chronic disease prevention programs or police
- Effectiveness of such support strategies delivered at scale (defined as more than 50 organisational units/workplaces, schools, etc.)
- Impact of such strategies on chronic disease risks (tobacco and alcohol use, diet, physical activity or weight status).
What were the outcomes?
The comprehensive program of work provided the first comprehensive evidence synthesis in Australia aiming to guide policy makers in strategies to use when scaling up interventions in the community.
The project found there were relatively few trials into scaling up in community settings, and those that existed were of limited quality and underpowered. There was evidence that implementation strategies can work, but there is considerable heterogeneity in their impact. Overall, the effects of implementation strategies are modest.
The project led to three reviews published by the Cochrane Collaboration.
Relevance for practice
This project has highlighted the need to use comprehensive evaluation frameworks in existing and future prevention programs in community settings. It highlighted serious evidence gaps in our understanding of the use of implementation strategies to scale up prevention interventions. There is a need for coordinated research investment to fill these gaps, and for greater standardisation of implementation methods and processes.
Resources
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Ways to scale interventions in the community
Resource category:Findings Brief
Date
Publications
Other publications
2016
- Wolfenden L, Regan T, Williams CM, Wiggers J, Kingsland M, Milat A, Rissel C, Bauman A, Booth D, Farrell MM, Légaré F, Zomahoun HTV, Parmenter B, Ben Charif A, Yoong SL. Strategies to improve the implementation of workplace-based policies or practices targeting tobacco, alcohol, diet, physical activity and obesity. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2016, Issue 12. Art. No.: CD012439.
People
Lead investigators
Project team
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Adjunct Professor Andrew Milat
NSW Health -
Professor Chris Rissel
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Professor John Wiggers
University of Newcastle -
Professor Adrian Bauman AO
The University of Sydney -
Kathy Chapman
Cancer Council NSW -
Karen Gillham
Hunter New England Population Health -
Melanie Kingsland
Hunter New England Local Health District -
Dr Christopher Williams
University of Newcastle -
Dr Sze Yoong
University of Newcastle