The Researchers Have Left the Building: What Contributes to Sustaining School‐Based Interventions Following the Conclusion of Formal Research Support?

Abstract

BACKGROUND This study examined the sustainability of New Moves, a school-based program aimed at decreasing weight-related problems in adolescent girls. The National Cancer Institute recognizes New Moves as a research-tested intervention program that produced positive behavioral and psychosocial outcomes. METHODS Ten schools participated in the sustainability study. Teachers completed a survey and interview, and research staff observed one physical education (PE) class within 2 years of the study’s completion. Qualitative data were grouped by themes. Frequencies were calculated using quantitative data. RESULTS All schools continued all-girls PE classes using New Moves components following the study period. Fewer schools continued the nutrition and social support classroom modules and individual coaching sessions while no schools continued lunch get-togethers. Program components were sustained in both New Moves intervention schools and control schools. CONCLUSIONS Programs are most likely to be sustained if they: (1) fit into the current school structure; (2) receive buy-in by teachers; and (3) require minimal additional funds or staff time. Providing control schools with minimal training and intervention resources was sufficient to continue program components if staff perceived the program was important for students’ health and compatible within the school’s existing infrastructure.

De-adoption of an Evidence-Based Trauma Intervention in Schools: A Retrospective Report from an Urban School District

“…This is consistent with previous findings around workforce stability, administrative support, and fit with the school’s structure and priorities (e.g., Friend et al, 2014; Palinkas et al, 2013; Tibbits et al, 2010). For these clinicians, sustaining the intervention did not appear to present major challenges despite the fact that there was no longer a district-wide CBITS implementation support structure (e.g., ongoing clinical consultation, district-level support systems).…”

“…De-adoption, on the other hand, can occur at any stage of the implementation process, and often refers to failure to sustain an EBP (Massatti, Sweeney, Panzano, & Roth, 2008; Panzano & Roth, 2006; Stirman et al, 2012). Currently, there is a need to understand factors and processes that may lead to EBP de-adoption under real-world conditions in which researchers and university partners are no longer providing training, consultation, personnel, or financial support (Friend, Flattum, Simpson, Nederhoff, & Neumark-Sztainer, 2014; Greenhalgh, Robert, MacFarland, Bate, & Kyriakidou, 2004). …”

“…For instance, inner context factors such as fit with school structure, teacher buy-in, and minimal cost and time resources were the most influential factors in the sustainment of a school-based obesity program for adolescent girls (Friend et al, 2014). A set of studies examining organizations’ sustainment of violence and delinquency prevention programs as part of a statewide effort focused on inner context factors and found that aligning intervention goals with those of the school/agency, program staff, overall school support, administrator support, and financial planning were important to organizations’ sustainment of interventions (Tibbits, Bumbarger, Kyler, & Perkins, 2010).…”

Strategic factors for the sustainability of a health intervention at municipal level of Brazil

“…It also recognizes the existence of a relationship between the degree of institutionalization of a program and its compatibility with the government's vision 2,9,13,35 . In this study, the intervention was strengthened by its definition as a municipal government project, supported by the population and local managers.…”

“…Some studies have identified factors influencing positively the sustainability of interventions -political support, funding stability, partnerships, organizational capacity, program evaluation, program adaptation, strategic planning, organizational learning, capacity building 5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14 ; and negatively -staff turnover, changing medical practice, the low level of initial implementation of the project and lack of training for participants in the intervention 15,16,17 . However, few studies have elucidated how these factors interact in this process.…”