A guide to scaling up population health interventions

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Policy
• Intervention Science

Background:

• Scaling up public health interventions is crucial for maximizing reach and outcomes.
• A practical gap exists in tools guiding scaling-up processes in high-income countries.
• Existing models and methods for scaling up require systematic review and practical application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a practical guide for scaling up population health interventions.
• To assist health policy makers, practitioners, and researchers in scaling up effective interventions.
• To support research-practice collaborations in designing scalable studies.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of scaling-up models and methods.
• Two-round Delphi process with senior policy makers, practitioners, and researchers.
• Development of a four-step guide: scalability assessment, scale-up plan development, preparation for scale-up, and intervention scaling-up.

Main Results:

• A practical, four-step guide titled 'Increasing the scale of population health interventions' was developed.
• The guide facilitates scalability assessment, planning, resource acquisition, and implementation.
• It offers flexibility for users at different stages of the scaling-up process.

Conclusions:

• The guide provides a structured approach to scaling up public health interventions.
• It empowers decision-makers to balance desirability with feasibility in scaling efforts.
• It serves as a valuable resource for enhancing the impact of health interventions.