The future of health behavior change research: What is needed to improve translation of research into health promotion practice?

It is well documented that the results of most behavioral and health promotion studies have not been translated into practice. PURPOSE: In this article, reasons for this gap, focusing on study design characteristics as a central contributing barrier, are discussed.

Four reviews of recent controlled studies in work sites, health care, school, and community settings are briefly discussed and summarized. Their implications for future research and for closing the gap between research and practice are then discussed.