The dissemination of chronic disease prevention programs: linking science and practice

A strong partnership between researchers and providers is crucial to advance the science of dissemination and to support dissemination of effective chronic disease prevention programs. We reflect on our experience in three recent studies, (a) COMMIT, (b) a National Survey of School Smoking Prevention Programs, and (c) an ongoing study of Training of Providers of Smoking Prevention Programs to identify specific ways in which research and provider communities might collaborate. We propose that a national working group of researchers and providers be established to support (a) dissemination of programs by creating and continuously updating an inventory of 'tested' methods and protocols for use in key community intervention channels (health care offices, worksites, etc.) and (b) dissemination research by establishing a shared set of research priorities and mechanisms to stimulate researcher-provider partnership during the research process.