Framework and tools for planning and evaluating community participation, collaborative partnerships and equity in health promotion
Gwyn Jolley, Angela Lawless and Catherine Hurley

Abstract

Issue addressed: This paper reports on the development of a planning and evaluation framework and tools to assess key principles of primary health care/health promotion: community participation, collaborative partnerships and a focus on equity. The focus of the tools is on planning and process evaluation with some outcome questions included.

Methods: Following a scan of literature, the framework and tools for each component were developed. The tools were road-tested with colleagues and trialled by workshop participants.

Results: A framework and tools for each of the components and ways to assess how effectively they are applied at the program and practice level was developed. The tools attempt to deal with evaluation challenges by providing primary health care/health promotion practitioners and evaluators with a framework to examine these components of their work.

Conclusions: Planning and evaluation are regarded as routine in good practice. As health promotion practice and programs are shaped by principles such as partnerships, participation and equity, it is important that we also apply an evaluation lens to these components. Sound planning and evaluation allows practitioners to explain how and why these principles are integrated into their work and what is achieved.

Key words: evaluation, community participation, partnerships, equity

So what?

The development of a pragmatic evaluation framework for each of the key principles will assist practitioners to build a sound evidence base, not only about their individual practice or program, but also about an approach to health care which holds considerable promise to meet the health challenges of this century.

Health Promotion Journal of Australia 2008; 19:152-7