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A Conceptual Framework for Adaptive Preventive Interventions

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Abstract

Recently, adaptive interventions have emerged as a new perspective on prevention and treatment. Adaptive interventions resemble clinical practice in that different dosages of certain prevention or treatment components are assigned to different individuals, and/or within individuals across time, with dosage varying in response to the intervention needs of individuals. To determine intervention need and thus assign dosage, adaptive interventions use prespecified decision rules based on each participant's values on key characteristics, called tailoring variables. In this paper, we offer a conceptual framework for adaptive interventions, discuss principles underlying the design and evaluation of such interventions, and review some areas where additional research is needed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Methodology Center and Department of Human Development and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania

    Linda M. Collins

  2. Institute for Social Research and Department of Statistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan

    Susan A. Murphy

  3. Department of Psychology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania

    Karen L. Bierman

Authors
  1. Linda M. Collins
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  2. Susan A. Murphy
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  3. Karen L. Bierman
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Collins, L.M., Murphy, S.A. & Bierman, K.L. A Conceptual Framework for Adaptive Preventive Interventions. Prev Sci 5, 185–196 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:PREV.0000037641.26017.00

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