The RE-AIM framework: a systematic review of use over time

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Services Research
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• The Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework is a widely recognized tool for evaluating public health interventions.
• Consistent application and reporting of all RE-AIM dimensions are crucial for maximizing the impact and sustainability of health programs.
• Previous syntheses have explored the application of RE-AIM, but a comprehensive review of its reporting across various dimensions is needed.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize the application of the RE-AIM framework in published literature.
• To summarize key issues and challenges in applying the RE-AIM criteria.
• To highlight exemplary applications of the RE-AIM framework across different health domains.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature review was conducted using several databases, covering publications from 1999 to 2010.
• Included studies were empirical research articles; non-empirical articles, case studies, and commentaries were excluded.
• A total of 71 articles met the inclusion criteria for analysis.

Main Results:

• The majority of publications focused on physical activity, obesity, and disease management interventions.
• While RE-AIM was broadly applied, reporting consistency varied significantly across its five dimensions.
• Only 4 articles reported on a single RE-AIM dimension, whereas 44 reported on all five dimensions.

Conclusions:

• The RE-AIM framework is extensively utilized in health research, particularly for physical activity and chronic disease interventions.
• Inconsistent reporting of RE-AIM dimensions presents a challenge for comprehensive evaluation and comparison of interventions.
• Future research should focus on improving the consistent application and reporting of all RE-AIM criteria to enhance the translation of research into practice.