Objective: The present study reports on the development of a Dutch version of an American intervention for community-residing older persons in The Netherlands. Adaptation of this cognitive behavioural group intervention, to reduce fear of falling and avoidance of activity in older persons, was required before evaluation in a different setting.
Methods: The process of adaptation consisted of defining the target population, translating the original intervention manual literally, consulting Dutch experts and a developer of the original intervention, selecting qualified facilitators and conducting a pilot study of the adapted manual.
Results: Adaptations were incorporated to improve the content, feasibility and didactic materials. The main adaptations were scheduling more time for some activities, changing session frequency from twice to once a week, adding a booster session after 6 months and adding more transparencies.
Conclusion: A critical assessment of the appropriateness and feasibility of the original intervention provided important information to facilitate replication in the Dutch setting. Applying a systematic approach is recommended in the process of adapting an original intervention for use in a different setting.
Practice implications: To facilitate replication, in general, more detailed information should be provided about interventions.