title: Translating evidence-based interventions for implementation: Experiences from Project HEAL in African American churches.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Community-based approaches have been increasing in the effort to raise awareness and early detection for cancer and other chronic disease. However, many times, such interventions are tested in randomized trials, become evidence-based, and then fail to reach further use in the community. Project HEAL (Health through Early Awareness and Learning) is an implementation trial that aims to compare two strategies of implementing evidence-based cancer communication interventions in African American faith-based organizations.
  
  
  METHODS
  This article describes the community-engaged process of transforming three evidence-based cancer communication interventions into a coherent, branded strategy for training community health advisors with two delivery mechanisms. Peer community health advisors receive training through either a traditional classroom approach (with high technical assistance/support) or a web-based training portal (with low technical assistance/support).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We describe the process, outline the intervention components, report on the pilot test, and conclude with lessons learned from each of these phases. Though the pilot phase showed feasibility, it resulted in modifications to data collection protocols and team and community member roles and expectations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Project HEAL offers a promising strategy to implement evidence-based interventions in community settings through the use of technology. There could be wider implications for chronic disease prevention and control.
authors.affiliation: Department of Behavioral and Community Health, University of Maryland, School of Public Health, 2369 School of Public Health (Building 255), College Park, MD 20742, USA. cholt14@umd.edu.
authors.forename: Cheryl L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Holt
authors.forename: Erin K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Tagai
authors.forename: Mary Ann
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Scheirer
authors.forename: Sherie Lou Z
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Janice
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bowie
authors.forename: Muhiuddin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haider
authors.forename: Jimmie L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Slade
authors.forename: Min Qi
authors.initials: MQ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Tony
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Whitehead
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003150:Community Health Workers / Q000193:education; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012067:Religion; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical