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. 2022 Jan 26:9:755738.
doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.755738. eCollection 2021.

Evaluating the Application of the RE-AIM Planning and Evaluation Framework: An Updated Systematic Review and Exploration of Pragmatic Application

Danielle D'Lima  1 , Tayana Soukup  2 , Louise Hull  2
Affiliations

Evaluating the Application of the RE-AIM Planning and Evaluation Framework: An Updated Systematic Review and Exploration of Pragmatic Application

Danielle D'Lima et al. Front Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: RE-AIM is one of the most widely applied frameworks to plan and evaluate the implementation of public health and health behavior change interventions. The objective of this review is to provide an updated synthesis of use of the RE-AIM (Reach Effectiveness Adoption Implementation and Maintenance) planning and evaluation framework and explore pragmatic use (i.e., partial application of the framework) and how this is reported.

Methods: Systematic review. MEDLINE (R) and PsycINFO were searched, via the Ovid interface, between January 2011 and December 2017. Studies that applied RE-AIM as a planning and/or evaluation framework were included.

Results: One hundred fifty-seven articles met inclusion criteria. One hundred forty-nine reported using RE-AIM for evaluation, three for planning and five for planning and evaluation. Reach was the most frequently reported dimension (92.9%), followed by implementation (90.3%), adoption (89.7%), effectiveness (84.5%), and maintenance (77.4%). One hundred forty-seven/one hundred fifty-seven articles originated from high-income economy countries. Within a sub-set analysis (10% of included articles), 9/15 articles evaluated all dimensions. Of the 6/15 articles that did not evaluate all dimensions, five provided no justification for pragmatic application.

Conclusions: RE-AIM has gained increased use in recent years and there is evidence that it is being applied pragmatically. However, the rationale for pragmatic use is often not reported.

Systematic review registration: PROSPERO (CRD42017054616).

Keywords: RE-AIM framework; evaluation frameworks; implementation frameworks; implementation models; implementation theories; planning frameworks; systematic review.

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Conflict of interest statement

TS received funding from Cancer Alliances, NHS England, and Health Education England for training cancer multidisciplinary teams in assessment and quality improvement methods in the United Kingdom. TS also received fees from Roche Diagnostics for research services in relation to implementation and evaluation of innovations for cancer multidisciplinary teams in the United States of America. The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
PRISMA flowchart of results.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Frequency of RE-AIM use by country.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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