Adapting efficacious interventions: Advancing translational research in HIV prevention

Abstract

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) has infected approximately 1.5 million people in the United States. Type 1 translation research (basic research, methods development, and efficacy trials) has yielded multiple efficacious behavioral HIV prevention programs. Type 2 translation research (dissemination and effectiveness studies) has been less prevalent or successful. Adaptation of efficacious interventions for culturally diverse populations has received increasing researcher attention, and empirical validation of adaptation procedures promises to help bridge the gap between Type 1 and Type 2 studies. In this article, the authors briefly discuss the development, testing, and dissemination of efficacious HIV prevention programs and then focus on research-based principles and processes that can guide researchers' adaptation efforts and steps that researchers can take to help empower practitioners to conduct science-based adaptation. Greater collaboration between researchers and service providers to test adaptation frameworks promises to benefit both research and practice. © 2006 Sage Publications.