What contributes to the long-term implementation of an evidence-based early childhood intervention: a qualitative study from Germany

Background Rigorous research trials have demonstrated that early childhood interventions can reach socially disadvantaged families and can have a lasting impact on the healthy development of their children. However, little is known about the internal and contextual factors that contribute to the long-term implementation of such interventions. In this study, we investigated the development of the home visiting program Pro Kind. The program was adapted from the evidence-based US-American Nurse-Family Partnership program and was implemented in Germany in 2006. Using an exploratory approach, we examined factors contributing to the long-term implementation of this program.Methods Qualitative interviews with program implementers (midwives, social workers, program managers) of the Pro Kind program and key stakeholders in two cities in Germany were conducted. Interview guides were developed to assess participants' perceptions and experiences on how the program had developed over time internally and in the interaction with its environment. Data were collected between March and September 2021. Drawing on the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), data was coded according to the principles of thematic analysis.Results A total of 25 individuals (11 program implementers, 14 key stakeholders) were interviewed. The identified factors related to three out of five domains of the CFIR model in our analysis. First, regarding the intervention characteristics, the evidence of effectiveness and the relative advantage of the implementation of the program compared to similar interventions were viewed as contributors to long-term implementation. However, the program's adaptability was discussed as a constraining factor for reaching the target group. Second, concerning the inner setting, stakeholders and program implementers perceived the implementation climate, the leadership engagement and the program's size as relevant factors for networking strategies and program visibility. Third, as part of the outer setting, the degree of networking with external stakeholders was highlighted of great importance for the program.Conclusions We identified several factors of particular importance for the long-term implementation and sustainability of an early childhood intervention at the practice level, particularly in the local context in Germany. These findings should inform the design of impactful, scalable, and sustainable early childhood interventions targeting disadvantaged families.