External validity and translation from research to implementation

We provide strategies that facilitate the transition and dissemination of evidence-based health promotion interventions into community settings. Dissemination requires attention to the resources and information needs of community providers to adopt, implement, and maintain these programs. We discuss the overall process of translation of research interventions into community settings, including key issues and barriers in translation and dissemination of research to practice. We include a discussion of the RE-AIM framework as it applies to research translation and dissemination of research. Finally, we provide strategies to facilitate translation of research into widely disseminated and maintained evidence-based health promotion interventions.