Speakers
Description
Authors: Nick Axford (University of Plymouth), Pamela Buckley (University of Colorado), Cady Berkel (Arizona State University), Sean Grant (University of Oregon), Kiara Alvarez (Johns Hopkins University), Catherine Bradshaw (University of Virginia), Charles Lea (Columbia University), Alyssa Lozano (University of Miami), Kiara Lyons (Arizona State University), Myra Parker (University of Washington), Matthew Valente (University of South Florida)
Presenters: Nick Axford and Pamela Buckley
Corresponding author: Nick Axford
Background: In 2005, the Society of Prevention Research (SPR) published the first iteration of its Standards of Evidence (Flay et al., 2005), followed by an update in 2015 (Gottfredson et al., 2015) and extension to economic evaluations (Crowley et al., 2018). These standards aim to elevate the rigor of the scientific evidence on the effects, implementation and economics of prevention interventions. Based on recent developments in the field, the SPR Board of Directors formed a Task Force to update and expand the Standards of Evidence to consider more diverse forms of evidence and research.
Methods: This Task Force has since engaged in multiple methods to obtain input on making revisions to the standards. Specifically, we interviewed former Task Force members and others with relevant experience, held a listening session at the 2024 SPR Conference, engaged members of international prevention science organisations (including EUSPR in Cremona, 2024), and conducted meetings on specific topic areas.
Results: Results of these efforts demonstrated the need for an overarching framework for the Standards of Evidence.
Discussion: Through this campfire session, we invite colleagues to engage in dialogue about the proposed Framework for Standards of Evidence in Prevention Science. We will first contextualise the discussion by summarising the history of the SPR Standards of Evidence. We will then discuss the rationale for the framework: i.e., the evolution of the SPR 2024-2028 strategic plan’s goals and objectives, learnings from the growth of evidence-based funding mechanisms over the last decade, and the growing scope of the Standards of Evidence. Finally, we will summarise the proposed framework, which emphasises methodological appropriateness: i.e., the need to match the diverse research questions in prevention science with specific types of evidence resulting from appropriate types of research. We will then open a discussion for participants to ask questions and offer reflections on the standards framework.
| Conflict of interest | None. |
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