Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2016 Mar;6(1):5-16.
doi: 10.1007/s13142-015-0376-2.

The full translational spectrum of prevention science: facilitating the transfer of knowledge to practices and policies that prevent behavioral health problems

Diana H Fishbein  1 , Ty A Ridenour  2 , Mindy Stahl  2 , Steve Sussman  3
Affiliations
Review

The full translational spectrum of prevention science: facilitating the transfer of knowledge to practices and policies that prevent behavioral health problems

Diana H Fishbein et al. Transl Behav Med. 2016 Mar.

Abstract

A broad-span, six-stage translational prevention model is presented, extending from the basic sciences-taking a multi-level systems approach, including the neurobiological sciences-through to globalization. The application of a very wide perspective of translation research from basic scientific discovery to international policy change promises to elicit sustainable, population-level reductions in behavioral health disorders. To illustrate the conceptualization and actualization of a program of translational prevention research, we walk through each stage of research to practice and policy using an exemplar, callous-unemotional (CU) traits. Basic science has identified neurobiological, psychophysiological, behavioral, contextual, and experiential differences in this subgroup, and yet, these findings have not been applied to the development of more targeted intervention. As a result, there are currently no programs considered especially effective for CU traits, likely because they do not specifically target underlying mechanisms. To prevent/reduce the prevalence of conduct disorder, it is critical that we transfer existing knowledge to subsequent translational stages, including intervention development, implementation, and scaling. And eventually, once resulting programs have been rigorously evaluated, replicated, and adapted across cultural, ethnic, and gender groups, there is potential to institutionalize them as well as call attention to the special needs of this population. In this paper, we begin to consider what resources and changes in research perspectives are needed to move along this translational spectrum.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The full translational spectrum of prevention science model showing the following six basic stages of translational research: T0 Discovery Science, T1 Methods and Program Development, T2 Efficacy and Effectiveness Trials, T3 Real-World Applications and Dissemination, T4 Scaling and Policy Reform, and T5 Globalization and Public Opinion
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Sussman S, Valente TW, Rohrbach LA, et al. Translation in the health professions: converting science into action. Eval Health Prof. 2006;29:7–32. doi: 10.1177/0163278705284441. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Czajkowski SM, Hall K, Lynch M, Sirocco K, Haverkos L, Nilsen W, Robertson E, Goldstein A, Compton W, Uhl G, Scott M, Perl H, Goldman D, Shirley M. Advancing prevention science: supporting and engaging in transdisciplinary translational research. Trans Behav Med. In press
    1. Fuqua J, Stokols D, Gress J, et al. Transdisciplinary collaboration as a basis for enhancing the science and prevention of substance use and abuse. Subst Use Misuse. 2004;39:1457–1514. doi: 10.1081/JA-200033200. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Hassmiller-Lich K, Frericks L, Fishbein D, Pentz, M. Translating research into prevention of high-risk behaviors in the presence of complex systems: definitions and systems frameworks. Trans Behav Med. In press - PMC - PubMed
    1. Hassmiller-Lich K, Ginexi EM, Osgood ND, Mabry PL. A call to address complexity in prevention science research. Prev Sci. 2012 - PubMed

MeSH terms