Development and evaluation of a training programme on asset-based community development aimed at general practice...

Area of Science:

• Community Health
• Primary Care Education
• Public Health Strategy

Background:

• Asset-based Community Development (ABCD) enhances population health by identifying and utilizing community health assets.
• Primary care practitioners are well-positioned to facilitate ABCD, but training gaps limit its implementation.
• Existing general practice training lacks sufficient focus on community-oriented approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a training program on ABCD for general practice trainees in Andalusia, Spain.
• To assess the implementation and scalability of the ABCD training program.
• To investigate the program's impact on the community orientation of primary care practices.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods, multilevel, multicentric action research study over 48 months.
• Intervention includes classroom sessions and practical mapping of community health assets.
• Qualitative (interviews, focus groups) and quantitative (questionnaires) data collection from trainees, primary care workers, and policymakers.

Main Results:

• The study is ongoing; results on program effectiveness and impact are pending.
• Iterative refinement of the training program based on ongoing evaluation findings.
• Establishment of stakeholder groups to guide the research in eight study areas.

Conclusions:

• The research will provide evidence-based guidance for integrating ABCD training into general practice curricula.
• Findings will inform the scale-up of ABCD initiatives in primary care.
• The study aims to strengthen the community orientation of primary care services through enhanced practitioner training.