Learning to Combine Theories: An
Introduction to Intervention Mapping
Chapter 13
Lecture Objectives
Identify the six steps of the Intervention mapping process
Describe the process of prioritizing determinants, selected from across all
levels of ecological influence for intervention mapping
Identify the requirements and conditions of combining theories to achieve a
more ecological approach to health-promotion practice
Identify common theoretical constructs that can be used in isolation from
theory
What is Intervention Mapping (IM)?
• IM is also a framework used to guide assessment, program
planning, implementation, and evaluation
• IM begins with a contextual analysis of the health problem and
finishes with an evaluation
• Further, IM that change should occur at two or more of four
levels:
• 1) interpersonal
• 2) organizational
• 3) community
• 4) policy
The Six Steps of Intervention
Mapping
1. Assessment of the problem
2. Prioritizing determinants for intervention mapping
3. Program design
4. Program construction
5. Program Implementation
6. Program Evaluation
Step 1. Assessment of the Problem
• Make assessments of the problem with the context of
interpersonal, organization, community and policy domains
• The best way to accomplish this is through creating a logic model
with assistance from people within the target population
Example of a Logic Model: Black Males
Having Sex with Males
Determinants Intervention Points
INTERPERSONAL
Personalized counseling
Perceived risk of HIV acquisition
Fear of HIV acquisition
Digital badges and financial
Intrinsic motivation
rewards
ORGANIZATIONAL
Clinic-based assistance with Assigned PrEP navigator
insurance Staff training and quality
Gay-friendly healthcare assurance
COMMUNITY
Homophobia
Social media marketing
Medical mistrust
POLICY
Reduced out-of-pocket costs Clinical based cost sharing
Protection of confidentiality Protections against disclosure
Step 2. Prioritizing Determinants for
Intervention Mapping
• Create matrices linking different levels of
determinants to corresponding program
objectives: Then
• Rank each matrix based on changeability and
level of impact
• Do this because:
• Ranking based on changeability and level of
impact is important because it optimizes your
efforts
Consumption of daily sweetened beverages sorted into four levels of influence
Step 3. Program Design
• A method is defined as program activity that will be used to
leverage change in a given determinant
• Method selection is the most vital step in intervention mapping
since it results in the development of the intervention plans
• Intervention strategy is the next step after method selection,
which allows the method to be translated into a program-based
action
Step 3. Program Design
Combining Theories
When combining theories to design a program, there are three
different requirements:
• 1. Logic model must be used to show how each theory maps onto the
various activities
• 2. Theories must align with the intervention mapping process
• 3. Theories need to be accurately interpreted and applied
Theoretical Constructs Used Separately from
Theory
Constructs Ecological Influences
Perceived risk and severity Individual level
Cues to action
Self-efficacy
Outcome expectations and expectancies
Message reception
Perceive social norms Peer/Relational Level
Popular opinion leaders
Homophily
Social learning and vicarious learning
Access to supportive physical structures (walkability) Community level
Social capital
Natural helpers and lay health advisors
Defensible space Policy level
Price elasticity
Step 4. Program Construction
• Step 4 involves developing a program from start to finish
• It is particularly important that methods and strategies are
articulated in detail to ensure high fidelity of the program
• Fidelity can be defined as the degree to which a program is
implemented as planned.
Step 5. Program Implementation
• The most vital aspect of program implementation is training
people who will conduct various parts of the intervention
• Training requires follow-up monitoring with feedback
Step 6. Program Evaluation
• Step 6 involves an evaluation of your overall assessment,
planning, and implementation process
• The logic model (from Step 3) serves as a guide for the evaluation
process
Take Home Messages
• The IM guides program planning and clearly prescribes the use of
theories and/or theoretical constructs that span the full range of
an ecological model.
• The initial step of IM involves formally making assessments of the
problem within the context of the interpersonal, organizational,
community, and policy environments.
• The most important step in intervention mapping process is
method selection because it culminates in the development of
intervention plans
