Finding common ground in implementation: towards a theory of gradual commonality

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Promotion
• Intervention Implementation

Background:

• Complex collaboration is crucial for effective health promotion interventions.
• Understanding the dynamics of local implementation of national health programs is essential.
• The BeweegKuur, a lifestyle intervention for overweight and diabetes-risk individuals, requires effective collaboration for successful local adoption.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design a practice-based theory for collaboration in implementing a national health intervention.
• To understand the dynamic process of complex collaboration in public health initiatives.
• To gain insight into how context influences stakeholder collaboration during intervention implementation.

Main Methods:

• An empirical study utilizing a three-round Delphi method.
• Involved approximately 100 professionals in local and regional networks implementing the BeweegKuur.
• Systematic and interactive data collection to construct a common perspective on implementation.

Main Results:

• Developed the 'theory of gradual commonality' for complex collaboration.
• Identified co-creation as a key collaboration strategy emerging from the Delphi process.
• Demonstrated that consensus on co-creation allows flexibility in achieving intervention goals.

Conclusions:

• The practice-based theory of gradual commonality offers valuable insights into collaborative health intervention implementation.
• The Delphi research strategy is effective for developing theories grounded in stakeholder perspectives.
• Co-creation, as a collaborative strategy, supports diverse approaches to health promotion.