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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2017 Feb 28.
Published in final edited form as: Health Educ Behav. 2016 Jul 10;44(1):59–69. doi: 10.1177/1090198115610572

Table 3.

Guidance on Tailoring Capacity Building Contingent on Salient Variations in Evidence-Based Interventions and Contexts.

Salient variation Guidance for tailoring capacity building


Factor EBI selection/marketing CB structure and types (in addition to training, TA, tools) CB focus
EBI: Complexity When high
Select a different EBI
Market EBIs in formats that promote their adaptability and triability
When high
Provide more CB (dose) than when lower
When high
Focus on capacity to assess local contexts, select and adapt EBIs to fit context, and develop infrastructure to manage interdependency
EBI: Uncertainty When low
Select standardized EBIs
When high
Select broad, flexible EBIs
When high
Provide more CB (dose) than when lower

Strengthen CB provider/recipient collaboration
Facilitate peer networking
Assess and provide feedback on performance
When low
Focus on capacity to adapt to local context, and implement with fidelity
When high
Focus on capacity to engage stakeholders, facilitate ongoing and open communication, collect local data, develop a shared understanding of problem, and collectively formulate an intervention plan
Context: Setting’s Decision-Making Structure When hierarchical, centralized
Tailor and deliver CB to those working at different levels of the organization (target audience)
When horizontal, decentralized
Deliver CB to the coalition or team (target audience) that will plan and implement the EBI
When hierarchical, centralized
Focus on organizational leaders’ capacity to adopt and support the intervention; middle managers’ capacity to implement, supervise, and sustain the intervention; and practitioners’ capacity to deliver the intervention
When horizontal, decentralized
Focus on capacity to engage partners and to facilitate collaborative decision making
Context: Settings’ Overall Capacity When low
Select EBIs that embed change in existing technologies or operating procedures
When low
Efforts to build capacity to adopt and implement EBIs may not be successful
When low
Focus on building overall capacity prior to focusing on EBIs
Context: EBI-Setting Resources Fit When poor fit
If possible, select an EBI that provides a better fit
When poor fit
Provide incentives (funding or in-kind resources) to build capacity
When poor fit
Focus on capacity to adapt EBI and/or acquire additional resources
Context: EBI-Setting Values Fit When poor fit
Select an EBI that provides a better fit
When poor fit
CB provider/recipient collaboration
Facilitate peer networking
Assess and provide feedback on performance
When poor fit
Focus on capacity (motivation) to adopt and implement EBIs
Context: Stakeholder Unity/Polarization When polarized
Select an EBI that provides a better fit
Reframe EBI marketing
When polarized
Provide more CB (dose) than when lower
When unified
Focus on capacity for a technical, rational approach to adoption/implementation
When polarized
Focus on capacity for strategic and political approaches to adoption/implementation

Note. Variation in CB type/structure is italicized. EBI = evidence-based intervention; TA = technical assistance; CB = capacity building.