[Community-based health promotion--a challenge for the evaluation]

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Promotion
• Community Health

Background:

• Community-based health promotion (CBHP) is gaining political support in Germany, yet scientific literature on its theories and outcomes is limited.
• A lack of systematic concepts and recommendations for evaluating CBHP in Germany hinders effective program development.
• This work addresses the need for robust evaluation methods in CBHP.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline the fundamental ideas and core principles of CBHP.
• To deduce implications for assessing health-promoting community projects.
• To develop a framework for the systematic evaluation of CBHP in Germany.

Main Methods:

• Developed a framework for CBHP evaluation based on international models and expert discussions.
• Included guidelines for CBHP program planning and strategy evaluation.
• Defined process evaluation indicators for implementation, capacity building, reach, and acceptability.

Main Results:

• The framework offers strategic and operational criteria for program evaluation.
• Process evaluation indicators cover implementation, capacity building, and target group engagement.
• Outcome evaluation distinguishes between individual and community-level measurements, addressing empowerment and participation.

Conclusions:

• The proposed framework supports the development of flexible, individualized CBHP evaluation tools.
• It emphasizes the importance of citizen perspectives and community-level changes in evaluation.
• Future research should explore broader targets like quality of life, health equity, and evaluation responsibilities.