Exploring Implementation and Fidelity of Evidence-Based Behavioral Interventions for HIV Prevention: Lessons Learned From the Focus on Kids Diffusion Case Study

• Published in: Health education & behavior Vol. 36; no. 3; pp. 532 - 549
• Main Authors: Galbraith, Jennifer S., Stanton, Bonita, Boekeloo, Bradley, King, Winifred, Desmond, Sharon, Howard, Donna, Black, Maureen M., Carey, James W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.06.2009; Sage Publications; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS); Adaptation; AIDS; Biological and medical sciences; Case Studies; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diffusion of Innovation; Evidence based; Evidence-Based Medicine; Fidelity; Guideline Adherence; Health Education; Health Promotion - organization & administration; HIV; HIV Infections - prevention & control; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Intervention; Interventions; Interviews as Topic; Medical sciences; Miscellaneous; Prevention; Prevention and actions; Preventive programmes; Program Development; Program Evaluation; Public Health; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; REGULAR ARTICLES; Sexual behavior; Sexually Transmitted Diseases; Technical Assistance; Telephone Surveys; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; Young people; HIV/AIDS; adaptation; evidence-based interventions; fidelity; Human; Immunopathology; Evidence-based practice; Retroviridae; AIDS; Health education; Immune deficiency; Lentivirus; Implementation; Infection; Virus; Case study; Prevention; Viral disease; Human immunodeficiency virus; Diffusion; Child; Public health; Adaptation
• ISSN: 1090-1981; 1552-6127
• DOI: 10.1177/1090198108315366

Evidence-based interventions (EBIs) are used in public health to prevent HIV infection among youth and other groups. EBIs include core elements, features that are thought to be responsible for the efficacy of interventions. The authors evaluate experiences of organizations that adopted an HIV-prevention EBI, Focus on Kids (FOK), and their fidelity to the intervention's eight core elements. A cross-sectional telephone survey was administered to 34 staff members from organizations that had previously implemented FOK. Questions assessed how the organization adhered to, adapted, dropped, or altered the intervention. None of the organizations implemented all eight core elements. This study underscores the importance for HIV intervention researchers to clearly identify and describe core elements. More effort is needed to reflect the constraints practitioners face in nonresearch settings. To ensure intervention effectiveness, additional research and technical assistance are needed to help organizations implement HIV prevention EBIs with fidelity.