Factors Influencing Effective Dissemination
From mammography to prostate cancer screening to asthma prevention, Americans face an evolving stream of information and advice from many sources about preventing serious and widespread health problems. All too frequently, this information seems contradictory and of questionable veracity and often goes unheeded.

On behalf of the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) in the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), The Lewin Group analyzed factors influencing effective dissemination of prevention research findings. Although the study was primarily concerned with the diverse programs of prevention research sponsored by DHHS, the findings of the Lewin study can apply as well to other prevention efforts.

The objectives of the study included identifying the mechanisms by which DHHS translates research findings into clinical and public health practices and how these processes can be improved. The scope of the project encompassed a range of activities leading up to and following dissemination itself. Among its main topics, the study addressed:

• DHHS's role in stages of the dissemination process.
• Priorities used by DHHS to select which findings will be given resources for dissemination activities.
• How target audiences are identified and how dissemination strategies vary by characteristics of the target audience.
• Features of and barriers to effective dissemination of research findings.
• Formation of partnerships between DHHS and other organizations to further dissemination and implementation.
• How DHHS evaluates the impact of its dissemination process.
• Appropriate dissemination strategies for areas of prevention where available scientific evidence is uncertain or conflicting.

The study approach comprised a detailed literature review, examination of a wide range of specific federal prevention dissemination efforts, focused individual discussions and an expert panel meeting with federal technical advisors and non-government partners of the government in dissemination programs, and detailed case studies of prevention research dissemination on five topics:

• Asthma management
• Folic acid to prevent neural tube defects
• Obesity prevention and nutrition promotion
• Prostate cancer screening
• Sudden infant death syndrome prevention

Key Findings
Among the findings of the resultant report, Factors Influencing Effective Dissemination of Prevention Research Findings by the Department of Health and Human Services, is a set of 11 lessons. For example:

• The quality of scientific evidence in support of a prevention intervention does not necessarily correlate with the degree of uptake or adoption of the intervention.
• The concept of prevention research should be expanded to include investigations into the practical applications of prevention efforts. This type of applied research should be considered throughout the prevention process.
• DHHS partnerships with nonfederal entities can be vital to successful prevention efforts, particularly when formed before the dissemination or intervention stages of prevention.

Further, the study generated a prevention research dissemination framework that illustrates the relationships among various stages of research and dissemination, evaluation feedback, and ongoing interaction with target audiences and prevention partners.

View the full text of the report, case studies, and literature review. For more information on this project, contact Clifford Goodman.