RE-AIM: Resources - FAQs: Applying RE-AIM

RE-AIM.org > Resources > Frequenty Asked Questions (FAQs): Support & Evidence of RE-AIM

Frequently Asked Questions:
Support and Evidence of RE-AIM

Has the RE-AIM model been validated?
Have any literature reviews been conducted using the RE-AIM framework?

Has the RE-AIM model been validated? Is it a theory of behavior change?

RE-AIM is not a theory or conceptual model, rather it is a framework and a set of criteria for evaluating interventions that are intended to eventually be broadly implemented or widely adopted. As such, it is difficult to think of how one would "validate" RE-AIM or other approaches to evaluation such as the Precede-Proceed framework. The ultimate value of RE-AIM will be if both researchers and decision makers from potential adopting organizations feel that the framework is helpful to them in planning, conducting, reporting, and selecting interventions.

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Have any reviews of the literature been conducted using the RE-AIM framework? If so, what have these reviews found?

Yes, several reviews have been conducted using the RE-AIM criteria. The general conclusion is that issues of representativeness (of both individuals and especially organizations and intervention agents) participating are the least often reported RE-AIM elements. Greater attention needs to be paid to the AIM factors.

The following are review articles using the RE-AIM framework:

France, E.K., Glasgow, R.E., Marcus, A. (2001) Smoking cessation interventions among hospitalized patients: What have we learned? Preventive Medicine, 32(4):376-388.

Glasgow, R.E., Bull, S.S., Gillette, C., Klesges, L.M., & Dzewaltowski, D.A. (2002). Behavior change intervention research in health care settings: A review of recent reports, with emphasis on external validity. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 23(1): 62-69.

Eakin, E.G., Bull, S.S., Glasgow, R.E., & Mason, M. (2002) Reaching those most in need: A review of diabetes self-management interventions in disadvantaged populations. Diabetes Metab Res Rev., Jan.-Feb.(1):26-35.

Glasgow, R.E., Klesges, L.M., Dzewaltowski, D.A., Bull, S.S., Estabrooks, P. (in press) The future of health behavior change research: What is needed to improve translation of research into health promotion practice? Annals of Behavioral Medicine.