%A Yll Hyseni
%T Theory-Based Evaluation of a Cancer Control Coalition
%X Coalitions are voluntary collaborations and interactions between two or more agents that yield synergy for problem solving. Their use as means of addressing community health concerns has increased during the past decades. This study uses the Community Health Governance (CHG) model to describe and analyze the interaction between various coalition components from data derived from the Pennsylvania Cancer Control Consortium (PAC3). The study used an already established questionnaire, designed to measure concepts of Leadership, Management, and Critical characteristics of the process, Empowerment, Synergy and Bridging Social Ties as put forth by the CHG model. An electronic invitation was sent to current PAC3 members to complete the questionnaire. Using PAC3 survey responses, I compared the association between variables using the Chi Square test of independence. A total of 162 survey responses were included in the analysis (RR=21.6). PAC3 members' Empowerment was significantly associated with three of the four Leadership measures, three of the five variables measuring the concept of Management and two of the four measures of Critical characteristics of the process (p<0.05). Member's ability to Bridge social ties showed a statistically significant association with most measures of Leadership, two of five measures of Management, and two of the four variables measuring Critical characteristics of the process (p<0.05). Synergy showed a statistically significant association with two of the four variables measuring Leadership, two of the five variables measuring Management and one of the four Critical characteristics of the process variables (p<0.05). This study reports the observed interaction of the various coalition components. It presents recommendations on potential improvement to coalition building practices and reinforces the importance of evidence based best practices. The public health significance of this study corresponds to the potential use of the study results in public health practices, such as coalition building, improvement and maintenance. Specifically regarding the Pennsylvania Cancer Control Consortium, the study results will facilitate the fulfillments of its missions.
%D 2007
%K coalitions; community health governance; evaluation research
%I University of Pittsburgh
%L pittir10195