Transcreation: an implementation science framework for community-engaged behavioral interventions to reduce health...

Area of Science:

• Community-based participatory research
• Health disparities research
• Behavioral intervention science

Background:

• Translating evidence-based behavioral interventions into practice often overlooks challenges in reaching health disparity populations.
• Existing methods may not adequately address the unique needs and contexts of diverse communities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe an innovative "transcreational" framework for designing and delivering community-based interventions aimed at reducing health disparities.
• To define transcreation as a process ensuring interventions resonate with communities while achieving health outcomes.

Main Methods:

• The Transcreation Framework involves seven steps: engaging community partners, specifying theory, identifying program inputs, designing prototypes, developing community-specific study methods, building community capacity, and delivering/evaluating the intervention.
• Emphasizes community engagement from the outset, utilizing community-based interventionists and testing in community settings.
• Integrates rigorous scientific evaluation of program effectiveness and implementation processes, including training and technical assistance for fidelity and capacity building.

Main Results:

• The framework expands the types of scientific evidence considered, balancing intervention fidelity with community relevance.
• It guides the development and testing of behavioral interventions tailored to reduce health disparities.
• Embedded infrastructure development promotes intervention sustainability within communities.

Conclusions:

• This transcreation framework offers a structured approach to developing and testing behavioral interventions for health disparities.
• It promotes sustainability by integrating infrastructure development into the research process.
• The framework supports the creation of interventions that are both scientifically sound and contextually appropriate for diverse communities.