Tinkering with Perfection: Theory Development in the Intervention Cultural Adaptation Field

Abstract

Background Testing evidence-based interventions (EBIs) outside of their home country

Transporting Evidence-Based Parenting Programs for Child Problem Behavior (Age 3–10) Between Countries: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…For example, Ferrer-Wreder et al (2012) commented that imported evidence-based interventions made up 40% of psychosocial interventions tested in Sweden, and yet in some cases these imported programs failed to show expected benefits, including Sundell's trial Sundell et al, 2008) of Multisystemic Therapy, which was imported from the United States and aimed at teenage delinquents. Ferrer-Wreder et al suggested this might be related, in part, to the high quality of regular services for young offenders in Sweden compared to the United States.…”

“…Although the theoretical basis and process for translating effective interventions according to cultural or national differences is not fully understood, there is a growing literature on this topic. For example, models have been developed for examining applicability of public health evidence across contexts (e.g., Bonell, Oakley, Hargreaves, Strange, & Rees, 2006;Burchett, Umoquit, & Dobrow, 2011;Wang, Moss, & Hiller, 2006), and frameworks, derived from mental health and prevention literature, to guide translation and adaptation (Barrera & Castro, 2006;Ferrer-Wreder, Sundell, & Mansoory, 2012;Kumpfer, Pinyuchon, de Melo, & Whiteside, 2008;Sussman, Unger, & Palinkas, 2008). Moreover, there is a growing body of literature-though no systematic review-on factors affecting whether transportation is likely to be appropriate or successful.…”

An Integrated Strategy for the Cultural Adaptation of Evidence-Based Interventions

“…Examining the fit of the selected EBIs with the target ethno-cultural community's beliefs is done by assessing the EBIs' perceived acceptability to the community representatives [11]. This involves the following actions: …”

“…Many frameworks [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] propose a planned, organized, and collaborative process for actively engaging representatives of the target ethnocultural community in the cultural adaptation of EBIs and suggest aspects of the culture to consider. As commonly described, the cultural adaptation process involves modifying non-specific elements of EBIs but not the specific elements.…”

A non-randomised pragmatic trial of a school-based group cognitive-behavioural programme for preventing depression in girls

“…To mirror Swedish conditions and the Swedish school curriculum, modifications and adjustments of the original manual and workbook have been made [15], such as replacing comic strips (personal communication, Annette Einar, January 2011). However, no study examining the DISA adaptation of CWS for this new cultural group has been published [19]. …”