Characterizing asset-based studies in public health: development of a framework

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Community Engagement
• Health Intervention Research

Background:

• Asset-based approaches are increasingly used in public health but lack standardized terminology, hindering identification.
• Distinguishing between asset-based and deficit-based community studies is challenging due to terminological variations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a framework for differentiating asset-based from deficit-based community studies.
• To create a tool that acknowledges the continuum of approaches in community interventions.

Main Methods:

• A literature review of asset-based and deficit-based approaches informed framework development based on the Theory of Change model.
• A scoring system was created for five framework elements, incorporating community engagement measurement.
• The framework was tested on 13 community-based intervention studies.

Main Results:

• The framework successfully characterized studies, distinguishing between predominantly deficit-based and those with asset-based elements.
• It quantified the presence of asset-based principles within interventions.
• The tool demonstrated its ability to differentiate between varying degrees of asset-based approaches.

Conclusions:

• The developed framework is a valuable tool for researchers and policymakers in assessing interventions.
• It aids in determining the extent of an intervention's asset-based nature.
• The framework can identify specific asset-based elements that contribute to intervention success.