Volume 25, Issue 3: June, 1998

Abstract

FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO EFFECTIVE COMMUNITY HEALTH PROMOTION COALITIONS: A STUDY OF 10 PROJECT ASSIST COALITIONS IN NORTH CAROLINA

Michelle Crozier Kegler, DrPH, MPH
Allan Steckler, DrPH
Kenneth McLeroy, PhD
Sally Herndon Malek, MPH

The purpose of this study was to identify factors that contribute to the effectiveness of community health promotion coalitions. Member survey data from 10 coalitions formed as part of North Carolina Project ASSIST were analyzed at the coalition level to identify factors related to member participation, member satisfaction, quality of the action plan, resource mobilization, and implementation. The results suggest that coalitions with good communication and skilled members had higher levels of member participation. Coalitions with skilled staff, skilled leadership, good communication, and more of a task focus had higher levels of member satisfaction. Coalitions with more staff time devoted to them and more complex structures had greater resource mobilization, and coalitions with more staff time, good communication, greater cohesion, and more complex structures had higher levels of implementation. Neither member participation nor member satisfaction correlated with the other measures of coalition effectiveness.