History, Current Status, and Website Resources Related to the RE-AIM Framework

The RE-AIM framework was developed a decade ago by Dr. Glasgow and colleagues to focus on factors that accelerate or impede translation of research to practice. It was initially used to evaluate individual level health behavior change interventions. Over time it has been applied to program planning and development; to larger scale worksite, health care, and community level interventions; health policies; and most recently built and social environmental interventions. It has been used to review the literature in diverse areas including primary care, school, worksite, and community-based interventions and target behaviors including smoking, physical activity, vaccine safety, complementary medicine programs, chronic illness self-management, childhood obesity prevention and treatment, and medication adherence. These studies have consistently indicated that evidence to date has addressed issues of internal validity much more than external validity and that data on participant and setting representativeness and program costs are reported least often. Over 100 studies have been published using the RE-AIM framework by 40 different first authors from 6 countries between 1999 and 2009. These publications, as well as related presentations and various tools to help public health practitioners and researchers apply the model are contained in the recently revised RE-AIM website (www.re-aim.org). This presentation will demonstrate the website, its use and the resources it provides including coding criteria, self-quizzes, and other interactive features. The conclusion will summarize evolution and use of RE-AIM over time, as well as recent and future directions and training opportunities.