title: 'Translational formative evaluation': critical in up-scaling public health programmes.
abstract: The process of generating evidence-based public health interventions is understood to include steps that define the issue, generate and test solutions in controlled settings, replicate and then disseminate more widely. However, to date models have not considered the types and scale of formative evaluation tasks that are needed to up-scale interventions, from efficacy to population-wide dissemination in the real world. In this paper, we propose that an additional stage of 'translational formative evaluation' is necessary for the translation of effectiveness evidence into wide-scale public health practice. We illustrate the utility of translational formative evaluation, through a case study of the Get Healthy Information and Coaching Service(®) (GHS), a population-based telephone service designed to assist adults change lifestyle-related behaviours. The additional translational formative evaluation steps comprised synthesis of efficacy studies, qualitative research with the wider target audience, environmental analysis and stakeholder consultation. They produced precise recommendations to refine GHS design and implementation. Translational formative evaluation is a necessary intermediate step, following efficacy studies and a precursor to population-wide implementation of public health programmes.
authors: *Corresponding author. E-mail: blythe.ohara@sydney.edu.au.
authors: Blythe J
authors: BJ
authors: O'Hara
authors: Philayrath
authors: P
authors: Phongsavan
authors: Lesley
authors: L
authors: King
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Develin
authors: Andrew J
authors: AJ
authors: Milat
authors: Dianne
authors: D
authors: Eggins
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: King
authors: Joanne
authors: J
authors: Smith
authors: Adrian E
authors: AE
authors: Bauman
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D055317:Evidence-Based Practice; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales; D011634:Public Health; D036301:Qualitative Research; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical
keywords: formative evaluation; practice; theory; translational research