Human-centered design methods to achieve preparation phase goals in the multiphase optimization strategy framework.

BACKGROUND

The public health impact of behavioral and biobehavioral interventions to prevent and treat mental health and substance use problems hinges on developing methods to strategically maximize their effectiveness, affordability, scalability, and efficiency.

METHODS

The multiphase optimization strategy (MOST) is an innovative, principled framework that guides the development of multicomponent interventions. Each phase of MOST (, , ) has explicit goals and a range of appropriate research methods to achieve them. Methods for attaining and phase goals are well-developed. However, methods used in the phase are often highly researcher-specific, and concrete ways to achieve phase goals are a priority area for further development.

RESULTS

We propose that the discover, design, build, and test (DDBT) framework provides a theory-driven and methods-rich roadmap for achieving the goals of the phase of MOST, including specifying the conceptual model, identifying and testing candidate intervention components, and defining the optimization objective. The DDBT framework capitalizes on strategies from the field of human-centered design and implementation science to drive its data collection methods.

CONCLUSIONS

MOST and DDBT share many conceptual features, including an explicit focus on implementation determinants, being iterative and flexible, and designing interventions for the greatest public health impact. The proposed synthesized DDBT/MOST approach integrates DDBT into the phase of MOST thereby providing a framework for rigorous and efficient intervention development research to bolster the success of intervention optimization.

PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY

1.  Optimizing behavioral interventions to balance effectiveness with affordability, scalability, and efficiency requires a significant investment in intervention development.2.  This paper provides a structured approach to integrating human-centered design principles into the phase of the multiphase optimization strategy (MOST).3.  The proposed synthesized model provides a framework for rigorous and efficient intervention development research in the phase of MOST that will ensure the success of intervention optimization and contribute to improving public health impact of mental health and substance use interventions.