Maximizing the impact of the cystic fibrosis family education program: Factors related to program diffusion

The impact of a health education program to help families manage chronic di sease will be determined not only by the demonstrated effectiveness of the intervention but also by the quality and breadth of program implementation. A theory-based intervention is evaluated that diffuses the Cystic Fibrosis Family Education Program (CF FEP) to approximately 20,000 families nationw ide. Surveys of 106 Cystic Fibrosis Foundation-certified CF centers are use d in a cross-sectional study of the theory-based determinants of diffusion. Results describe: (1) the proportion of CF centers targeted who adopted an d implemented the CF FEP; (2) the perceptions of program or center characte ristics associated with program use, fidelity and maintenance/institutional ization; and (3) the relationship between the method of decision-making use d by the center to adopt the program and program use, fidelity, and mainten ance/institutionalization.