Transfer of research-based HIV prevention interventions to community service providers: Fidelity and adaptation

HIV prevention research interventions usually follow protocols with specifi c procedures. if a community-delivered intervention uses the same procedure s with the same populations as those in the original research, the behavior change effects should be similar. However, community-based providers may n ot replicate an intervention exactly as it was conducted in the effectivene ss study. Adaptation may be needed to better meet the needs of the clients, community, or organization. We propose that interventions can be defined i n terms of core elements likely to be responsible for effectiveness. These core elements cannot be changed without fundamentally changing the interven tion, whereas other characteristics may be modified without altering effect iveness. HN prevention researchers and service providers can collaborate to develop interventions that not only are effective but can also be successf ully implemented by service organizations. If researchers actively involve service providers and community members in intervention planning, technolog y transfer goals can be better achieved.