From efficacy to effectiveness to diffusion: Making the transitions in dementia intervention research

Abstract

Translating research outcomes into clinical application in neuropsychological rehabilitation is seen as requiring two critical transitions. The first is a transition in research outcome emphasis from efficacy (demonstrating that an intervention works under controlled conditions) to effectiveness (demonstrating that an intervention works as implemented in real-world contexts). The second is a transition in which effective interventions are required to be diffused within caregiving systems to enable them to be implemented on a large scale. Examples of these transitions are provided within the context of designing interventions for persons with dementia.