Application of the consolidated framework for implementation research to understand implementation context of a cardiovascular disease risk-reduction intervention in rural churches.

Rural populations in the USA face higher rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence and mortality relative to non-rural and often lack access to health-promoting evidence-based interventions (EBIs) to support CVD prevention and management. Partnerships with faith organizations offer promise for translating preventative EBIs in rural communities; however, studies demonstrating effective translation of EBIs in these settings are limited. We used the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) and a multiple case study approach to understand the role of internal organizational context within 12 rural churches in the implementation of a 12-week CVD risk-reduction intervention followed by a 24-month maintenance program implemented in southernmost Illinois. The study involved qualitative analysis of key informant interviews collected before (n = 26) and after (n = 15) the intervention and monthly implementation reports (n = 238) from participating churches using a deductive analysis approach based on the CFIR. Internal context across participating churches varied around organizational climate and culture in four thematic areas: (i) religious basis for health promotion, (ii) history of health activities within the church, (iii) perceived need for the intervention, and (iv) church leader engagement. Faith organizations may be ideal partners in rural health promotion research but may vary in their interest and capacity to collaborate. Identifying contextual factors within community organizations is a first step to facilitating rural, community-based EBI implementation and outcomes.

Lifestyle interventions can be effective in lowering heart disease risk, but hard to access for those living in rural areas of the USA for geographic, cultural, and other reasons. Interventions implemented in community settings with partners such as churches are promising for reaching community members and improving health outcomes. Our goal was to identify and understand the role of organizational factors that affected the implementation of an intervention implemented in 12 rural churches to lower heart disease risk by promoting behavior change. By analyzing interview discussions and program documents, we found four factors related to church climate and culture that may have a role in intervention implementation: (i) whether health promotion activities were supported by religious beliefs within the church, (ii) whether churches had a prior history of health activities, (iii) whether church stakeholders expressed a need for the intervention, and (iv) church leader support for the intervention. Attention to these factors may help to improve future implementation of church-based interventions in rural settings.

Creating More Effective Vape Education Campaigns: Qualitative Feedback from Teens in Nine U.S. States.

Background: Successful media campaigns to reduce teen cigarette smoking indicate a similar approach may work for vaping, though message testing research is necessary to identify effective topics and approaches. Leveraging data from message testing studies across nine U.S. states, we identify promising topics and approaches and explore how the COVID-19 pandemic affected teens' reactions to vape education commercials. Methods: Teens ages 13-18 (N = 337) who vaped or were susceptible nonusers participated in focus groups and interviews (2018-2021) to review 35 creative concepts and commercials for Behind the Haze (BTH), a vaping education campaign. After viewing each video, participants assessed its perceived effectiveness (PE) and discussed their reactions. We conducted a reflexive thematic analysis of transcripts to identify crosscutting themes and compared PE scores for each video. Results: Key features of effective commercials included detailed facts accompanied by explanatory visuals, metaphors, and empathy. Promising topics included chemicals, physical consequences, and mental health, while addiction and industry deception messages were less impactful. The pandemic drew attention to mental health and immunity messages. Impact of one's vaping on friends emerged as a promising topic. Conclusions: While some tactics from successful cigarette prevention campaigns apply to vaping, others like anti-industry messaging do not. Fact-focused messaging on chemicals, physical consequences, and mental health accompanied by impactful graphics and attention-grabbing twists should be the focus of vape education campaigns. Frequent message testing research such as that conducted to inform BTH is necessary to identify promising and sometimes unexpected messaging approaches for timely and relevant teen vaping education materials.

Promising practices for the collaborative planning of integrated health campaigns from a synthesis of case studies.

A combination of public health campaigns and routine primary healthcare services are used in many countries to maximise the number of people reached with interventions to prevent, control, eliminate or eradicate diseases. Health campaigns have historically been organised within vertical (disease-specific) programmes, which are often funded, planned and implemented independently from one another and from routinely offered primary healthcare services. Global health agencies have voiced support for enhancing campaign effectiveness, including campaign efficiency and equity, through collaboration among vertical programmes. However, limited guidance is available to country-level campaign planners and implementers about how to effectively integrate campaigns. Planning is critical to the implementation of effective health campaigns, including those related to neglected tropical diseases, malaria, vitamin A supplementation and vaccine-preventable diseases, including polio, measles and meningitis. However, promising approaches to planning integrated health campaigns have not been sufficiently documented. This manuscript highlights promising practices for the collaborative planning of integrated health campaigns that emerged from the experiences of eight project teams working in three WHO regions. Adoption of the promising practices described in this paper could lead to enhanced collaboration among campaign stakeholders, increased agreement about the need for and anticipated benefits of campaign integration, and enhanced understanding of effective planning of integrated health campaigns.

A collaborative approach to develop an intervention to strengthen health visitors' role in prevention of excess weight gain in children.

BACKGROUND: The high prevalence of childhood obesity is a concern for public health policy and practitioners, leading to a focus on early prevention. UK health visitors (HVs) are well-positioned to prevent excessive weight gain trends in pre-school children but experience barriers to implementing guideline recommended practices. This research engaged with HVs to design an intervention to strengthen their role in prevention of early childhood obesity. METHODS: We describe the processes we used to develop a behaviour change intervention and measures to test its feasibility. We conducted a systematic review to identify factors associated with implementation of practices recommended for prevention of early childhood obesity. We carried out interactive workshops with HVs who deliver health visiting services in County Durham, England. Workshop format was informed by the behaviour change wheel framework for developing theory-based interventions and incorporated systematic review evidence. As intended recipients of the intervention, HVs provided their views of what is important and acceptable in the local context. The findings of the workshops were combined in an iterative process to inform the four steps of the Implementation Intervention development framework that was adapted as a practical guide for the development process. RESULTS: Theoretical analysis of the workshop findings revealed HVs' capabilities, opportunities and motivations related to prevention of excess weight in 0-2 year olds. Intervention strategies deemed most likely to support implementation (enablement, education, training, modelling, persuasion) were combined to design an interactive training intervention. Measures to test acceptability, feasibility, and fidelity of delivery of the proposed intervention were identified. CONCLUSIONS: An interactive training intervention has been designed, informed by theory, evidence, and expert knowledge of HVs, in an area of health promotion that is currently evolving. This research addresses an important evidence-practice gap in prevention of childhood obesity. The use of a systematic approach to the development process, identification of intervention contents and their hypothesised mechanisms of action provides an opportunity for this research to contribute to the body of literature on designing of implementation interventions using a collaborative approach. Future research should be directed to evaluate the acceptability and feasibility of the intervention.

From zero to thrive: A model of cross-system and cross-sector relational health to promote early childhood development across the child-serving ecosystem.

Early relational health between caregivers and children is foundational for child health and well-being. Children and caregivers are also embedded within multiple systems and sectors, or a "child-serving ecosystem", that shapes child development. Although the COVID-19 pandemic has made this embeddedness abundantly clear, systems remain siloed and lack coordination. Fostering relational health amongst layers of this ecosystem may be a way to systematically support young children and families who are facing adversity. We integrate theory, examples, and empirical findings to develop a conceptual model informed by infant mental health and public health frameworks that illustrates how relational health across the child-serving ecosystem may promote child health and well-being at a population level. Our model articulates what relational health looks like across levels of this ecosystem from primary caregiver-child relationships, to secondary relationships between caregivers and child-serving systems, to tertiary relationships among systems that shape child outcomes directly and indirectly. We posit that positive relational health across levels is critical for promoting child health and well-being broadly. We provide examples of evidence-based approaches that address primary, secondary, and tertiary relational health, and suggest ways to promote relational health through cross-sector training and psychoeducation in the science of early development. This model conceptualizes relational health across the child-serving ecosystem and can serve as a template for promoting child health and well-being in the context of adversity.

La salud de la temprana relación entre quienes prestan cuidado y los niños es fundamental para la salud y el bienestar del niño. Los niños y quienes les cuidan forman parte de múltiples sistemas y sectores, o un "ecosistema de servicio al niño," que moldea el desarrollo del niño. Aunque la pandemia del COVID-19 ha demostrado abundante y claramente esta pertenencia, los sistemas permanecen aislados y les hace falta coordinación. Fomentar la salud de la relación entre las capas del ecosistema pudiera ser una manera de apoyar sistemáticamente a los niños pequeños y familias que se enfrentan con situaciones adversas. Presentamos un modelo conceptual con base en marcos de trabajo de la salud mental infantil y la salud pública que ilustra cómo la salud de la relación a lo largo del ecosistema de servicio al niño pudiera promover el desarrollo del niño al nivel de grupo de población. Nuestro modelo articula cómo aparece la salud de la relación a lo largo de los niveles del ecosistema desde las relaciones entre quien presta el cuidado primario y el niño, hasta las relaciones secundarias entre quienes prestan el cuidado y loa sistemas de servicio al niño, y las relaciones terciarias entre sistemas que amoldan directa e indirectamente los resultados en el niño. Una positiva salud de la relación a través de todos los niveles es esencial para promover la salud y el bienestar del niño de manera amplia. Describimos ejemplos específicos de salud de la relación primaria, secundaria y terciaria, y sugerimos maneras de promover la salud de la relación a través del entrenamiento intersectorial y la educación sicológica dentro de la ciencia del desarrollo temprano. Este modelo conceptualiza la salud de la relación a lo largo del ecosistema de servicio al niño y puede ser un esquema patrón para promover el desarrollo del niño dentro del contexto de situaciones adversas.

La Santé Relationnelle Précoce entre les personnes prenant soin des enfants et les enfants est fondamentale pour la santé de l'enfant et son bien-être. Les enfants et les personnes prenant soin d'eux sont encastrés dans de multiples systèmes et des secteurs, ou un « écosystème ¼ servant l'enfant qui forme le développement de l'enfant. Bien que la pandémie du Covid19 ait rendu cet encastrement très clair, les systèmes demeurent compartimentés et manquent de coordination. Cultiver la santé relationnelle au sein des couches de l'écosystème pourrait s'avérer être une manière de soutenir des jeunes enfants et les familles faisant face aux obstacles. Nous présentons un modèle conceptuel informé par les structures de la santé mentale du nourrisson et de la santé publique qui illustre la manière dont la santé relationnelle au travers de l'écosystème servant les enfants peut promouvoir le développement de l'enfant au niveau de la population. Notre modèle articule ce à quoi la santé relationnelle ressemble au travers des niveaux de l'écosystème, des relations entre la personne principale qui s'occupe de l'enfant et l'enfant aux relations secondaires entre les personnes prenant soin de l'enfant et les systèmes servant l'enfant, jusqu'aux relations tertiaires entres les systèmes qui donnent forme aux résultats directement et indirectement. Une santé relationnelle positive au travers de tous les niveaux est critique pour la promotion de la santé de l'enfant et de son bien-être en général. Nous décrivons des exemples spécifiques de santé relationnelle primaire, secondaire et tertiaire, et suggérons des manières de promouvoir la santé relationnelle au travers de la formation entre secteurs et de la psychoéducation dans la science du développement précoce. Ce modèle conceptualise la santé relationnelle au travers de l'écosystème servant l'enfant et peut servir de modèle pour la promotion du développement de l'enfant dans le contexte de l'adversité.

A Rapid Survey of State and Territorial Public Health Partnerships With Faith-Based Organizations to Promote COVID-19 Vaccination.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, media accounts emerged describing faith-based organizations (FBOs) working alongside health departments to support the COVID-19 response. In May 2021, the Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO) sent an electronic survey to the 59 ASTHO member jurisdictions and four major US cities to assess state and territorial engagement with FBOs. Findings suggest that public health officials in many jurisdictions were able to work effectively with FBOs during the COVID-19 pandemic to provide essential education and mitigation tools to diverse communities. (Am J Public Health. 2022;112(3):397-400. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306620).

Evaluating the Findings of the IMPACT-C Randomized Clinical Trial to Improve COVID-19 Vaccine Coverage in Skilled Nursing Facilities.

IMPORTANCE: Identifying successful strategies to increase COVID-19 vaccination among skilled nursing facility (SNF) residents and staff is integral to preventing future outbreaks in a continually overwhelmed system. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether a multicomponent vaccine campaign would increase vaccine rates among SNF residents and staff. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: This was a cluster randomized trial with a rapid timeline (December 2020-March 2021) coinciding with the Pharmacy Partnership Program (PPP). It included 133 SNFs in 4 health care systems across 16 states: 63 and 70 facilities in the intervention and control arms, respectively, and participants included 7496 long-stay residents (>100 days) and 17 963 staff. INTERVENTIONS: Multicomponent interventions were introduced at the facility level that included: (1) educational material and electronic messaging for staff; (2) town hall meetings with frontline staff (nurses, nurse aides, dietary, housekeeping); (3) messaging from community leaders; (4) gifts (eg, T-shirts) with socially concerned messaging; (5) use of a specialist to facilitate consent with residents' proxies; and (6) funds for additional COVID-19 testing of staff/residents. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: The primary outcomes of this study were the proportion of residents (from electronic medical records) and staff (from facility logs) who received a COVID-19 vaccine (any), examined as 2 separate outcomes. Mixed-effects generalized linear models with a binomial distribution were used to compare outcomes between arms, using intent-to-treat approach. Race was examined as an effect modifier in the resident outcome model. RESULTS: Most facilities were for-profit (95; 71.4%), and 1973 (26.3%) of residents were Black. Among residents, 82.5% (95% CI, 81.2%-83.7%) were vaccinated in the intervention arm, compared with 79.8% (95% CI, 78.5%-81.0%) in the usual care arm (marginal difference 0.8%; 95% CI, -1.9% to 3.7%). Among staff, 49.5% (95% CI, 48.4%-50.6%) were vaccinated in the intervention arm, compared with 47.9% (95% CI, 46.9%-48.9%) in usual care arm (marginal difference: -0.4%; 95% CI, -4.2% to 3.1%). There was no association of race with the outcome among residents. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: A multicomponent vaccine campaign did not have a significant effect on vaccination rates among SNF residents or staff. Among residents, vaccination rates were high. However, half the staff remained unvaccinated despite these efforts. Vaccination campaigns to target SNF staff will likely need to use additional approaches. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04732819.

Lessons Learned From 10 Years of Preschool Intervention for Health Promotion: JACC State-of-the-Art Review.

Implementing a health promotion program for children is a complex endeavor. In this review, we outline the key lessons learned over 10 years of experience in implementing the SI! Program (Salud Integral-Comprehensive Health) for cardiovascular health promotion in preschool settings in 3 countries: Colombia (Bogotá), Spain (Madrid), and the United States (Harlem, New York). By matching rigorous efficacy studies with implementation science, we can help bridge the divide between science and educational practice. Achieving sustained lifestyle changes in preschool children through health promotion programs is likely to require the integration of several factors: 1) multidisciplinary teams; 2) multidimensional educational programs; 3) multilevel interventions; 4) local program coordination and community engagement; and 5) scientific evaluation through randomized controlled trials. Implementation of effective health promotion interventions early in life may induce long-lasting healthy behaviors that could help to curb the cardiovascular disease epidemic.

Deployment of Health Equity Strike Teams to Address COVID-19 Vaccine Disparities in Arkansas, 2021.

Minority populations have been disproportionately affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, and disparities have been noted in vaccine uptake. In the state of Arkansas, health equity strike teams (HESTs) were deployed to address vaccine disparities. A total of 13 470 vaccinations were administered by HESTs to 10 047 eligible people at 45 events. Among these individuals, 5645 (56.2%) were African American, 2547 (25.3%) were White, and 1068 (10.6%) were Hispanic. Vaccination efforts must specifically target populations that have been disproportionately affected by the pandemic. (Am J Public Health. 2022;112(1):29-33. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306564).

Strategies and interventions for healthy adolescent growth, nutrition, and development.

Adolescence is a pivotal point in the life course, characterised by transformative physical, cognitive, and emotional growth, an openness to change, and a drive to reshape the social environment. It offers unique opportunities to adopt changes in diet and physical activity that can persist into later life. Yet pre-existing nutritional problems, including micronutrient deficiencies, food insecurity, and poor-quality diets, persist at the same time as adolescents face the rapid emergence of an obesity epidemic. Adolescent growth and nutrition has been largely overlooked in intervention and policy research. Most intervention studies have emphasised micronutrient supplementation, with few taking into account the multiple drivers of adolescent diets. This Series paper highlights that effective interventions and policies will need to cut across sectors; be supported by multifaceted and multilevel policy; and extend across education, health, food systems, social protection, and digital media. Better data standardisation and systems will be essential in coordinating and monitoring these responses. In a context of shifts in planetary ecosystems and commercial drivers, resilient food systems will need to both ensure access to healthy and affordable foods and provide the infrastructure and incentives for continuing physical activity. Intergenerational partnerships with young people will be essential in bringing about transformative change and ensuring that food policies reflect their needs and aspirations.

Teacher and school staff perspectives on their role in school-based vision programs.

OBJECTIVE: School-based vision programs (SBVPs) are one approach to increase access to vision care by providing vision screenings, eye examinations, and eyeglasses directly in schools. Few studies report on the perspectives of teachers and staff, who are important stakeholders, on SBVPs. We examined teacher and staff perspectives on their involvement in SBVPs. DESIGN: Qualitative study using focus groups. PARTICIPANTS: Teachers and staff at Baltimore and Chicago public schools served by SBVPs between 2016 and 2018. METHODS: We conducted 21 semistructured focus groups with 117 teachers and staff in 10 Baltimore and 11 Chicago public preK-12 schools that participated in SBVPs. Sessions were recorded, transcribed, and coded using inductive thematic analysis. RESULTS: Participants identified 2 main themes regarding teacher and staff involvement in SBVPs: (i) program outreach, including using multiple communication modalities to engage parents, explaining program details to families, and helping with program consent form return and (ii) promoting vision health, including identifying vision problems in the classroom, encouraging eyeglasses wear, and supporting eyeglasses maintenance. Participants also discussed limitations in capacity to partake in these activities. CONCLUSION: Teachers interact with parents and students throughout the SBVP process, undertaking important roles in outreach and health promotion to ensure uptake of SBVP services. SBVPs and other school-based health programs should explore strategies to support teachers in the roles they fill to optimize program impact.

Análise da contribuição de intervenções de promoção da saúde: o caso do Programa Academia da Cidade Recife, Pernambuco / Analysis of the contribution of health promotion interventions: the case of the Academia da Cidade program Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil

Resumo Políticas de promoção da saúde em diversos países propõem a prática de atividade física em suas diretrizes. Avaliar os resultados dessas intervenções, ao mesmo tempo em que se constitui em importante apoio às decisões, pode ser desafiador. Para este estudo, utilizou-se uma avaliação baseada na teoria, a análise da contribuição. Foi explicitada a cadeia de resultados da intervenção e a teoria da mudança (TM), para analisar os elementos relacionados à sustentabilidade dos resultados do Programa Academia da Cidade (PAC) do município de Recife-PE, entre 2002 e 2016. Para validação da TM, procedeu-se a entrevistas com dez informantes-chave e realização de quatro grupos focais de junho a agosto de 2016. O teste da TM deu-se pela integração dos dados qualitativos produzidos, assim como a revisão de documentos provenientes da literatura e documentos oficiais e técnicos. Empregou-se a análise de conteúdo temática. Os resultados indicaram que a maior parte dos pressupostos foi confirmada na presença de outros fatores de influência (contextuais e explicações rivais). A testagem da TM revelou plausabilidade e validade da teoria do programa, permitindo concluir que a sustentabilidade de fatores estruturantes para o PAC contribuiu na manutenção dos resultados esperados, apesar da instabilidade ocorrida entre os anos de 2012 e 2016.

Abstract Health promotion policies in several countries propose the practice of physical activity in their guidelines. Assessing the results of these interventions, while providing important decision support, can be challenging. For this study, a theory-drive-evaluation was used, analysis of the contribution. The intervention results chain, the theory of change (ToC), was explained to analyze the elements related to the sustainability of the results of a program called Academia da Cidade (PAC), from 2002 to 2016. For ToC validation, interviews with ten key informants were carried out, and four focus groups were held from June to August 2016. The ToC test was carried out by integrating the qualitative data produced, as well as by performing a literature review and the review of official and technical documents. Thematic content analysis was used. The results indicated that most of the assumptions were confirmed in the presence of other influencing factors (contextual and rival explanations). ToC testing revealed the plausibility and validity of the program's theory, allowing us to conclude that the sustainability of PAC structuring factors contributed to the maintenance of the expected outcomes, despite the instability that occurred from 2012 to 2016.

Using Statewide Electronic Health Record and Influenza Vaccination Data to Plan and Prioritize COVID-19 Vaccine Outreach and Communications in Wisconsin Communities.

The University of Wisconsin Neighborhood Health Partnerships Program used electronic health record and influenza vaccination data to estimate COVID-19 relative mortality risk and potential barriers to vaccination in Wisconsin ZIP Code Tabulation Areas. Data visualization revealed four groupings to use in planning and prioritizing vaccine outreach and communication based on ZIP Code Tabulation Area characteristics. The program provided data, visualization, and guidance to health systems, health departments, nonprofits, and others to support planning targeted outreach approaches to increase COVID-19 vaccination uptake. (Am J Public Health. 2021;111(12):2111-2114. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306524).

Effect of a multi-disciplinary active aging intervention among community elders.

BACKGROUND: Active aging has been the paradigm of the old-age lifestyle. We aimed to investigate the efficacy of a multi-disciplinary intervention program in community-based elderly. METHODS: We conducted a 2-arm trial comparing the effectiveness between the study group and the control group. The intervention contents included active aging concepts and preparation, physical activity, health care management, cognitive training, emotional awareness and coping skills, family relationship and resilience, and internet use. A questionnaire tapping into the constructs of the expanded healthy life, mental health, social participation, and active aging was administered at baseline, 7th week, and 19th week. RESULTS: The generalized estimating equations analysis revealed that the study group exhibited significant improvements in healthy life, mental health, social participation, and active aging compared with the control group (P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: This study provided a good evidence supporting the effectiveness of a multi-disciplinary intervention program in improving the cognition of healthy life, mental health status, social participation activities, and active aging. A promotion of similar intervention is recommended.

Efectos en adultos mayores de su participación en un proyecto comunitario basado en activos para la salud / Effects on older adults of their participation in a community project based on health assets

Introducción: el envejecimiento poblacional y el incremento de las enfermedades crónicas no transmisibles están generando un gran impacto en los sistemas de salud a nivel mundial. Articular el sistema de salud con los recursos comunitarios es fundamental para poder coordinar la atención sociosanitaria, descomplejizar la atención de los adultos mayores y promover el envejecimiento activo. Nuestro objetivo fue analizar la relación entre la participación de adultos mayores en un proyecto de mapeo de activos para la salud y los efectos percibidos en esta experiencia. Métodos: la intervención consistió en un taller de seis encuentros semanales donde se aprendió a reconocer activos para la salud. Estos fueron volcados en un mapa virtual de acceso libre y gratuito para ser compartido con toda la sociedad. En el taller también se reforzó la importancia de la relación entre los participantes para mejorar los apoyos sociales. Utilizamos un diseño cualitativo de tipo interactivo con una estructura interconectada y flexible de los componentes de la investigación. Se observaron las interacciones y diálogos que se produjeron entre moderadoras-participantes y participantes entre sí, y se incluyeron los registros del cuaderno de campo de las moderadoras. Al finalizar el último encuentro, y cumplidos tres meses, se realizaron entrevistas en profundidad a quienes asistieron, al menos, a la mitad de los encuentros. Se utilizó una guía con preguntas abiertas, para conocer la perspectiva de los participantes acerca de eventuales cambios percibidos a partir de la experiencia vivida en el taller. Los datos se categorizaron y, posteriormente, se triangularon para garantizar la validez del análisis. Resultados: se identificaron las siguientes categorías que sitúan las experiencias de los participantes en relación con su paso por el proyecto: la generación de vínculos entre pares, los vínculos con las moderadoras, la dinámica de taller, la sustentabilidad del proyecto y la resignificación del barrio. Conclusión: es factible generar cambios positivos en la salud de los adultos mayores, potenciar los espacios de socialización y contribuir satisfactoriamente en la resignificación de los barrios a través del mapeo de activos para la salud. (AU)

Introduction: population ageing and the increase in chronic non-communicable diseases are having a major impact on health systems worldwide. Linking the health system with community resources is essential in order to coordinate social and health care, decomplexify the care of older adults and promote active ageing. Our objective was to analyse the relationship between the participation of older adults in a health asset mapping project and the perceived effects of this experience. Methods: the intervention consisted of a workshop of six weekly meetings where participants learned to recognise health assets from the perspective of each participant. These were then uploaded onto a virtual map that could be accessed free of charge and shared with the whole of society. The workshop also reinforced the importance of the relationship between participants to improve social support.We used an interactive qualitative design with an interconnected and flexible structure between the research components. The interactions and dialogues that took place between moderators-participants and participants with each other were observed, and the field notebook records of the moderators were included. At the end of the last meeting, and after three months, in-depth interviews were conducted with those who attended at least half of the meetings. A guide with open-ended questions was used to find out the participants perspective on possible changes perceived as a result of the workshop experience. The data were categorised and then triangulated to ensure the validity of the analysis. Results: the following categories were identified that situate the participants experiences in relation to their time in the project: the generation of links between peers, the links with the moderators, the workshop dynamics, the sustainability of the project and the re-signification of the neighbourhood. Conclusion: it is feasible to generate positive changes in the health of older adults, to strengthen the spaces for socialisation and to successfully contribute to the resignification of the neighbourhoods through the mapping of assets for health. (AU)

Physical activity promotion in an urban district: Analyzing the mechanisms of interorganizational cooperation.

Past research has identified the importance of cooperation among community-based organizations from different sectors to address public health problems such as insufficient physical activity. However, little is known about how and why interorganizational cooperation occurs. The present study sought to analyze the structure and emergent patterns of interorganizational cooperation within a network promoting physical activity based in an urban district neighborhood of a city in Southwestern Germany. Survey data on cooperative relations among 61 network organizations and organizational attributes (e.g., possession of sport facilities) were collected. Social network analysis was applied to examine network properties and exponential random graph models were estimated to test hypotheses concerning mechanisms and conditions of cooperative tie formation. The results show that the network of cooperation is sparse but characterized by a tendency for cooperation to occur in triangular structures. Other significant mechanisms of cooperative tie formation are preferential attachment, with the community department for education and sports being the most central network actor, and heterophily regarding the cooperation of organizations from different sectors. This study provides valid and reliable findings on conditions of network formation and significant mechanisms of interorganizational cooperation in the field of physical activity promotion. Knowledge about these mechanisms can help to manage networks effectively and efficiently and reveal potentials for improvement and intensification of interorganizational cooperation in both the present and other research areas of health promotion.