The role of implementation organizations in scaling evidence-based psychosocial interventions
- PMID: 37349845
- PMCID: PMC10288683
- DOI: 10.1186/s13012-023-01280-5
The role of implementation organizations in scaling evidence-based psychosocial interventions
Abstract
Background: To bring evidence-based interventions (EBIs) to individuals with behavioral health needs, psychosocial interventions must be delivered at scale. Despite an increasing effort to implement effective treatments in communities, most individuals with mental health and behavioral problems do not receive EBIs. We posit that organizations that commercialize EBIs play an important role in disseminating EBIs, particularly in the USA. The behavioral health and implementation industry is growing, bringing the implementation field to an important inflection point: how to scale interventions to improve access while maintaining EBI effectiveness and minimizing inequities in access to psychosocial intervention.
Main body: We offer a first-hand examination of five illustrative organizations specializing in EBI implementation: Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Incredible Years, Inc.; the PAXIS Institute; PracticeWise, LLC; and Triple P International. We use the Five Stages of Small Business Growth framework to organize themes. We discuss practical structures (e.g., corporate structures, intellectual property agreements, and business models) and considerations that arise when trying to scale EBIs including balancing fidelity and reach of the intervention. Business models consider who will pay for EBI implementation and allow organizations to scale EBIs.
Conclusion: We propose research questions to guide scaling: understanding the level of fidelity needed to maintain efficacy, optimizing training outcomes, and researching business models to enable organizations to scale EBIs.
Keywords: Commercialization; Dissemination; Evidence-based intervention; Implementation; Industry; Intermediary; Purveyor; Stages of Small Business Growth.
© 2023. The Author(s).
Conflict of interest statement
M. E. C. was an employee in the Parenting and Family Support Centre from July 2014 to December 2016; she has no current conflict of interest to report. E. L. D. and B. F. C. are co‐owners of PracticeWise, LLC, a behavioral health consulting company. B. F. C.’s ownership arrangement is approved by the University of California. M. R. S., the Parenting and Family Support Centre, is partly funded by royalties stemming from published resources of the Triple P-Positive Parenting Program, which is developed and owned by the University of Queensland (UQ). Royalties are also distributed to the Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences at UQ and contributory authors of published Triple P resources. Triple P International (TPI) Pty Ltd. is a private company licensed by UniQuest Pty Ltd. on behalf of UQ, to publish and disseminate Triple P worldwide. The authors of this report have no share or ownership of TPI. M. R. S. receives royalties and consultancy fees from TPI. J. M. is employed by Triple P International. A. R. M. is employed by Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. J. S. B. is employed by Beck Institute for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. She also receives royalties from Guilford Press. C. W. S. is developer of Incredible Years programs, and she is now an employee of Empower and is still clinical supervisor of Incredible Years. She is involved in consulting, training, dissemination, and clinical supervision for research of Incredible Years programs worldwide. C. A. is a mentor who provides training, consultation, and supervision for the Incredible Years parenting programs of the Incredible Years Inc. in California. D. D. E. is the president/CEO of PAXIS Institute which owns the trademarks and copyrights associated with the Good Behavior Game®/PAX Good Behavior Game and conducts the training and supports in multiple countries; PAXIS Institute does not conduct or finance the research on GBG outcomes. The PAXIS Institute requires study results be published—especially if the results indicate potential harm. J. A. P. is the founder and CEO of Evidn, LLC. P. C. K. receives royalties from the sales of published materials related to the treatment of youth, and his spouse operates and receives income from the publisher. The other authors declare that they have no competing interests.
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References
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- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: results from the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Rockville: Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; 2021.
