In the RE-AIM framework, which component addresses reach?

• A. Reach
• B. Adoption
• C. Implementation
• D. Maintenance

Answer: (A)

Reach focuses on how much of the target population is actually engaged by the program and who those participants are. It asks questions like: what portion of the intended audience participates, and do participants represent the larger group in important characteristics (age, sex, race, baseline risk, etc.). This emphasis on who is reached and how representative they are is what links the intervention’s effects to real-world applicability. For example, if a community health program aims to help adults with hypertension, Reach would measure the share of eligible adults who enroll and whether those enrolled resemble the broader hypertensive population. This helps determine whether the program’s impact can generalize beyond a biased subset. The other components focus on different stages: Adoption looks at how many settings or staff adopt the program; Implementation examines fidelity, consistency, and cost of delivery; Maintenance concerns the sustainability of effects and the program over time.