Health Promotion Effectiveness in Alberta: Providing the Tools for Healthy Albertans, August 1999
Consortium Members Involved:
WE Thurston, PhD. Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary.
DR Wilson, MD. Centre for Health Promotion Studies, University of Alberta.
R Felix, MSc. Research Associate.
Abstract
This 44 page (English) report is a summary of a review of the effectiveness of health promotion strategies in Alberta, using a new health promotion evaluation framework. The report provides evidence that the chances for good health were improved through health promotion projects that addressed the determinants of population health. In developing this report, a number of papers from the field of health promotion were used to develop the evaluation framework that was tested and refined in this study. This framework (10 pages in length) covers two key features:
- The degree to which the project met the criteria which distinguish best practices in health promotion; and
- the quality of the evaluation research.
The research study included a review of 180 Alberta health promotion project reports completed between 1993 and 1998, gathered from a variety of project funders and all Regional Health Authorities. The majority of the projects were directed at 3 of the health promotion actions of the Ottawa Charter: creating supportive environments; strengthening community action; and developing personal skills. Projects targeted families, groups and communities; took place in a wide range of settings; and over two-thirds were initiated by community services or coalitions of services and other organizations.
Of the 180 reports, 91 had an evaluation report that documented effectiveness usually with short- term outcomes, and 22 had a strong evaluation research design. For this report, brief program descriptions, key outcomes, and key features of success were highlighted for 15 exemplary health promotion projects in Alberta. These projects illustrate many of the important outcomes of effective health promotion strategies including improved health of individuals, groups, and communities, and improved utilization of health services.
Important lessons learned from the research study led to recommendations for future investment in health promotion including to: build upon the expertise and experience demonstrated in the projects; apply expertise to more determinants of health; apply expertise to more action strategies; promote intersectoral collaboration; encourage standards for evaluations; and promote use of the health promotion evaluation framework.
This report contains:
- a brief introduction to health promotion, and to evaluation of effectiveness;
- a description of the research study, and an overview of effective Alberta projects;
- examination of the health promotion project outcomes;
- comment of evaluation in Alberta projects;
- summary of the key learnings, and recommendations for future investment in health promotion;
- one-page outlines of 15 exemplary health promotion projects;
- the health promotion evaluation framework.
Dissemination through Regional Health Authorities in Alberta.
Contact: Population Health Strategies Branch,
Health Strategies Division
Alberta Health and Wellness
PO Box 1360
10025 Jasper Avenue
Edmonton, Alberta T5J 2N3
Phone: (780) 415-2754
Fax: (780) 422-5474
ISBN (0-7785-0212-0)
Last updated: December 12, 2000