Abstract #248  -  Symposium: Toward the effective dissemination and implementation of HIV and STI prevention interventions into everyday settings
Authors:   Presenting Author:   Ms. Wynne Norton - University of Connecticut
Additional Authors:  PhD Deborah H. Cornman, PhD Danuta Kasprzyk, MD, PhD Cornelis A. Rietmeijer,
Aim: The objective of this symposium is to help identify both unique and overlapping multilevel barriers to the effective dissemination and implementation of evidence-based HIV and STI prevention interventions in a variety of international, real-world settings. Recommendations for overcoming these multilevel barriers, as well as research priorities for advancing the science of dissemination and implementation, will be highlighted.
Method / Issue: Since the beginning of the epidemic, researchers, scientists and practitioners have developed numerous individual- and community-level evidence-based HIV and STI prevention interventions for an array of populations and prevention settings. However, we have had comparatively little success in the effective dissemination and implementation of such interventions beyond initial research trials and into everyday settings. Without careful examination of the multilevel barriers inherent in the dissemination and implementation process, as well as scientific and practical recommendations for overcoming these challenges, our interventions will continue to have a limited impact on curbing the epidemic worldwide. This symposium will include an introduction to the topic, several presentations highlighting unique and overlapping multilevel barriers to the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based HIV and STI interventions, and a summary of findings and recommendations. To begin, Wynne Norton (University of Connecticut) will give a brief introduction on the current state-of-the-science and practice of dissemination and implementation of evidence-based HIV and STI prevention interventions. Next, Drs. Cornman, Kasprzyk and Rietmeijer will each present case study examples of prominent and multilevel challenges in disseminating and implementing both individual- and community-level HIV and STI prevention interventions in a variety of international settings. Specifically, Dr. Deborah Cornman (University of Connecticut) will compare and contrast challenges involved in translating, disseminating, and implementing Options, an evidence-based HIV risk-reduction intervention, within South Africa, Ethiopia, Mozambique and the U.S. Dr. Danuta Kasprzyk (Battelle Seattle Research Center) will highlight how use of the existing public health infrastructure helped overcome barriers associated with the community-based implementation of the popular opinion leader model intervention in rural Zimbabwe. Dr. Cornelis Rietmeijer (Denver Public Health Department) will discuss real-world obstacles associated with implementing an evidence-based STI prevention intervention in busy clinical care settings in the U.S. Finally, Ms. Norton will give a closing presentation that highlights the major challenges associated with supporting and sustaining these interventions in real-world settings, and summarizes presenters’ recommendations for advancing both the science and practice of this area of inquiry.
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