Developing a Productive Workgroup Within a Community Coalition: Transtheoretical Model Processes, Stages of Change,...

Area of Science:

• Community Health
• Public Health Policy
• Health Disparities Research

Background:

• Addressing complex health disparities necessitates inter-agency collaboration.
• Effective methods for developing and activating community volunteer workgroups are often underexplored.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline processes for creating action-oriented, community-based workgroups using the transtheoretical model (TTM).
• To focus on developing workgroups that produce evidence-based information for health policy.

Main Methods:

• Utilized open-ended surveys and coalition discussions to identify facilitators of workgroup progression through stages of change.
• Analyzed email exchanges and meeting frequency to understand group dynamics.
• Applied transtheoretical model (TTM) principles to guide workgroup development.

Main Results:

• Social support and helping relationships were crucial for cohesion and trust throughout change stages.
• Consciousness-raising and dramatic relief facilitated initial movement from precontemplation to preparation.
• Self-reevaluation and self-liberation prevented attrition and sustained effort during planned activities.
• Stimulus control and reinforcement management supported progression through action and maintenance stages.

Conclusions:

• Created an action-oriented, multidisciplinary workgroup focused on evidence generation for health policy.
• Improved health outcomes for under-resourced patient populations through targeted interventions.