Adapting a Culturally Grounded Diabetes Prevention Program to a Family Diabetes Prevention Program

Introduction: The incidence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) in youth is projected to increase through 2060, especially in minority youth. Every Little Step Counts (ELSC) has demonstrated efficacy in reducing T2D risk factors in Latino youth. Documenting the adaptation of ELSC to a family diabetes prevention program (FDPP) could support future adaptation and scaling of FDPPs.Purpose: To describe the process that guided the adaptation of a culturally grounded evidenced-based DPP tailored to Latino families, with the aim of using the Framework for Reporting Adaptations and Modifications-Enhanced (FRAME) to classify adaptations. Methods/Design: The approach that guided the adaptation involved community-based participatory research (CBPR) and phases commonly used to adapt health interventions. Inductive and deductive content analysis guided by the FRAME was conducted on data collected throughout the phases to identify and classify adaptations. Data was then triangulated with the entities involved in the adaptation, analyzed to determine the frequency and proportion of adaptations across the FRAME categories and levels, and cross tabulated. Results: A total of N=66 adaptations were identified. Adaptations occurred with the highest frequency during the grant preparation and after the pilot study. Most adaptations were led by both the academic institution and community partners. Content modifications were most common. Prominent reasons for adaptation included organization/setting time constraints and integrating community partners’ and interventionists’ feedback. Discussion: Study results align with the CBPR approach that guided the adaptation and the ELSC core tenet of integrating community partnerships throughout all aspects of the intervention. To efficiently track adaptations, consensus as to what constitutes varying levels of adaptation granularity (i.e., macro, meso, micro) is needed. While tracking adaptations can be time and resource intensive, tracking adaptations may support the development of strategies to tie adaptations to outcomes. Conclusion: It is critical to determine when adaptations are needed to avoid a “culture of adaptation hyperactivity”. There is an opportunity to analyze past and future ELSC adaptations to better understand the intervention’s core tenets and the relationship between adaptations and outcomes. Future ELSC adaptations would benefit from considering how to incorporate feedback from diverse stakeholders and populations in preparation for scaling.