Intervention Characteristics Considered in Health Educators' Adoption Decision-Making Process.

Area of Science:

• Implementation Science
• Public Health
• Agricultural Extension

Background:

• Understanding intervention characteristics is crucial for successful implementation.
• Key intermediaries, like Cooperative Extension professionals, influence adoption decisions.
• Limited knowledge exists on how researchers grasp intermediary-valued intervention attributes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify intervention characteristics most valued by Cooperative Extension educators and specialists.
• To explore the decision-making process for adopting health promotion interventions within Extension.
• To inform intervention developers on communicating valued attributes to stakeholders.

Main Methods:

• A sequential explanatory mixed-methods design combining surveys and semi-structured interviews.
• Diffusion of Innovations theory and Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research informed the study.
• Quantitative (ANOVA) and qualitative (content analysis) methods analyzed data from educators and specialists across 47 states.

Main Results:

• Both educators and specialists valued community need and potential reach of interventions.
• A significant difference (p < .05) was found in the importance of various intervention components.
• Educators prioritized intervention cost (time, training), while specialists emphasized evidence base and external funding.

Conclusions:

• Intervention developers must tailor communication of intervention attributes to specific stakeholder groups.
• Addressing the distinct priorities of educators and specialists can enhance evidence-based intervention adoption.
• Recognizing and communicating valued characteristics facilitates the dissemination and implementation process.