Table 3 Definitions of technical assistance (TA) used in TA evaluation research studies

Bonney et al. (2019) [32]

A multi-tiered approach to build the capacity of individuals or organizations to achieve substantial change (as cited in Fixsen, Blasé, Horner, and Sugai, 2009 [33]; Chilenski, Welsh, Olson, Hoffman, Perkins, and Feinberg, 2018 [34]).

Cerully et al. (2016) [35]

Support to help community-partner organizations execute their efforts (as cited in Mitchell, Florin, [36] and Stevenson, 2002 [37]).

Chiappone et al. (2018) [38]

TA is defined as targeted or tailored support given to an individual or organization to help assist with successful development, implementation, and evaluation of a program, policy, intervention, or service through shared knowledge, resources, and expertise (as cited in National Association for the Education of Young Children and National Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies, 2011) [39].

Chilenski et al. (2018) [34]

TA involves external expertise and guidance designed to support the effective translation of EBIs into real-world settings (as cited in Forman, Olin, Hoagwood, Crowe & Saka, 2009 [12]; Wolff, 2001) [40].

Chilenski et al. (2016) [22]

TA, or the support and assistance that a prevention effort receives from someone or some organization that is not a part of a community team, has been theorized as very important in supporting high quality implementation of prevention programs specifically, and prevention systems more generally (as cited in Chinman et al., 2005 [14]; Forman, Olin, Hoagwood, Crowe, & Saka, 2009 [12]; Mitchell, Florin, & Stevenson, 2002 [36]; Wandersman & Florin, 2003 [41]; Wolff, 2001) [40].

Duffy et al. (2012) [42]

Individualized and hands-on intervention intended to address specific barriers in the context of a single individual or organization (as cited in Wandersman, Chien, & Katz, 2012 [10]).

Hunter et al. (2009) [43]

TA has been used to describe different types of activities, including community-friendly manuals, on-site consultation, regional workshops, train-the-trainers models, and interactive Web-based systems (as cited in Stevenson, Florin, Mills & Andrade, 2002).

Livet et al. (2018) [44]

Planned instructional activity to facilitate knowledge and skill acquisition (as cited in Leeman et al. 2015 [45]).

Moreland-Russell et al. (2018) [46]

For the purposes of this work, we considered “TA” for HPV and CRC as a multicomponent strategy consisting of in-person sessions supported by subject matter experts, facilitated development of action plans by state team members, and follow-up support calls which included webinars with team members and partners that were involved in the implementation of the specific activities in their respective action plans.

Olson, et al. (2020) [18]

TA has been defined as an individualized approach that provides implementation support to, and increasing capacity for, continuous quality improvement (CQI) among comparative effectiveness research. (as cited in Wandersman, Chien, and Katz, 2012 [10]; Chinman, Hunter, Ebener, et al., 2008 [47]).

Segre, O'Hara, Fisher (2013) [48]

TA consultations are sessions in which practitioners and host organizations gain the information, tools and support to implement new practices (as cited in Sullivan 1991 [49]).

Spadaro et al. (2011) [50]

Providing guidance, support, and expertise (as cited in Anderson, Bruner, & Satterfield, 1995) [51].

Rushovich et al. (2015) [52]

TA is a broad term that has been used to describe services that an outside entity provides to an agency or organization to help build its capacity to implement an innovation or improvement to their current operations (as cited in Sokol & Stiegert, 2010) [53].

Yazejian, Iruka (2015) [54]

On-site TA refers to any individualized professional development strategy that supports the application of skills to practice, such as coaching or professional development advising.

Young et al. (2020) [55]

The formal or informal engagement of an entity to one or more additional entities for the purpose of improving their capacity to accomplish their public health objectives (e.g., training, resources)