Suggested next steps, for those seeking to implement evidence-based interventions:
Suggested step 1: Review the website carefully to identify interventions backed by strong evidence of a large effect in a population similar to the one you serve.
Suggested step 2: For each such intervention, try to identify the key features that must be implemented faithfully to achieve the desired effect. To identify these key features, we suggest you —
- Go to the intervention’s web site (via the web link listed in our intervention summary), and carefully review the description of the intervention; and
- Talk directly with intervention’s developer.
Rationale for this suggestion: There is strong evidence that seemingly small differences in how an intervention is implemented can sometimes make a major difference in the intervention’s effects. The importance of adhering to the details of an evidence-based intervention is often not fully appreciated by those seeking to replicate it.
Suggested step 3: If you decide to proceed with implementation, work closely with the intervention developer to ensure adherence to the intervention’s key features.
Rationale for this suggestion: Developers of evidence-based interventions often have well-developed procedures for (i) ensuring close adherence to the intervention’s key features, and (ii) monitoring the extent of such adherence over time. If the developer does not yet have such procedures, we recommend that you work with the developer and/or others to develop and implement them.