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Review
. 2003 Apr;93(4):557-74.
doi: 10.2105/ajph.93.4.557.

Reconsidering community-based health promotion: promise, performance, and potential

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Free PMC article
Review

Reconsidering community-based health promotion: promise, performance, and potential

Cheryl Merzel et al. Am J Public Health. 2003 Apr.
Free PMC article

Abstract

Contemporary public health emphasizes a community-based approach to health promotion and disease prevention. The evidence from the past 20 years indicates, however, that many community-based programs have had only modest impact, with the notable exception of a number of HIV prevention programs. To better understand the reasons for these outcomes, we conducted a systematic literature review of 32 community-based prevention programs. Reasons for poor performance include methodological challenges to study design and evaluation, concurrent secular trends, smaller-than-expected effect sizes, limitations of the interventions, and limitations of theories used. The effectiveness of HIV programs appears to be related in part to extensive formative research and an emphasis on changing social norms.

Comment in

  • Community-based interventions.
    McLeroy KR, Norton BL, Kegler MC, Burdine JN, Sumaya CV. McLeroy KR, et al. Am J Public Health. 2003 Apr;93(4):529-33. doi: 10.2105/ajph.93.4.529. Am J Public Health. 2003. PMID: 12660190 Free PMC article. No abstract available.
  • On reconsidering community-based health promotion.
    Kuller LH. Kuller LH. Am J Public Health. 2003 Aug;93(8):1201; author reply 1201-2. doi: 10.2105/ajph.93.8.1201. Am J Public Health. 2003. PMID: 12893590 Free PMC article. No abstract available.

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