Dissemination experiences and preferences from HIV service delivery organizations

Area of Science:

• Implementation Science
• Public Health
• HIV Prevention and Treatment

Background:

• Bridging the gap between intervention development and implementation is crucial for effective public health strategies, particularly in HIV.
• Understanding how practitioners select and utilize research is vital for improving intervention delivery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the processes used by health organizations and departments in prioritizing health needs and selecting interventions for HIV treatment and prevention.
• To identify facilitators and barriers in the dissemination and uptake of interventions within these organizations.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving interviews with Midwest health organizations and health departments involved in HIV services.
• Iterative, rapid qualitative analysis to identify key steps in intervention prioritization, selection, and information dissemination.

Main Results:

• Organizations prioritized needs using community assessments, leadership buy-in, staff capacity, funding, and partnerships.
• Interventions were often developed internally or adapted locally; information was preferred from trusted brokers or peers.
• Desire to evaluate and share results was high, but limited by evaluation capacity and funding.

Conclusions:

• Improving dissemination requires researchers to design flexible interventions with diverse materials for intermediaries.
• Practitioners can enhance research uptake by partnering with researchers for evaluation.
• Funders should prioritize support for intervention evaluation and dissemination, including peer-to-peer learning.