Coalitions currently are a popular tool for promoting community-based solutions to health problems, such as alcohol, tobacco, and other drug (ATOD) abuse. Private foundations, granting agencies, and other public health organizations assume that participation of community members in health promotion coalitions will increase the likelihood of program success. This article examines whether key characteristics of coalitions are related to effectiveness as measured by member satisfaction, commitment to the coalition, and the quality of planning efforts. Member survey data from the first year evaluation of an ATOD coalition were analyzed using factor analysis, chi-square, and multiple regression techniques at both the individual and group levels. The results suggest that community leadership, shared decision making, linkages with other organizations, and a positive organizational climate were key determinants of member satisfaction and participation. These same factors were not related to the quality of coalition plans. However, the significance of coalitions for community empowerment and health promotion is discussed.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
McLeroy K., Bibeau D., Steckler A., Glanz K.: An ecological perspective on health promotion programs. Health Educ Q15:351-377, 1988.
2.
Milio N.: Promoting Health Through Public Policy. Philadelphia, PA , F. A. Davis, 1980.
3.
Pentz M., Dwyer J., MacKinnon D, Flay B. , Hansen W., Wang E., Johnson C.: Amulti-community trial for primary prevention of adolescent drug abuse: Effects on drug use prevalence. JAMA261:3259-3266, 1989 .
4.
Winett R., King A., Altman D.: Health Psychology and Public Health. New York, Pergamon, 1989.
5.
Hawkins D., Catalano R.: Communities That Care: Action for Drug Abuse Prevention. San Francisco, Jossey-Bass, 1992 .
6.
Minkler M.: Health education, health promotion and the Open Society: An historical perspective . Health Educ Q16(1):17-30, 1989.
7.
Stokols D.: Establishing and maintaining healthy environments: Toward a social ecology of health promotion. Am Psychol47:1-22, 1992.
8.
Carlaw R., Mittlemark M., Bracht N., Luepker R.: Organization for a community cardiovascular health program. Health Educ Q11:243-252, 1984.
9.
Maccoby N., Farquhar J., Wood P.: Reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease: Effects of a community based campaign on knowledge and behavior. J Community Health3:100-114, 1977.
10.
McAllister A., Puska P., Salonen J.: Theory and action for health promotion: Illustrations from the North Karelia project. Am J Public Health72:43-50, 1982.
11.
Vincent M., Clearie A., Schluchter M.: Reducing adolescent pregnancy through school and community-based education . JAMA257(24):3382-3386, 1987.
12.
Moskowitz J. : The primary prevention of alcohol problems: A critical review of the research literature. J Stud Alcohol50(1):54-88, 1989.
13.
Office for Substance Abuse Prevention (OSAP): Citizen's Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Directory: Resources for Getting Involved. Washington, DC, U.S. Government Printing Office, 1990. (DHSS Pub. No. ADM 90-1657.)
14.
Feighery E., Rogers T.: Building and Maintaining Effective Coalitions (Published as Guide No. 12 in the series How-To Guides on Community Health Promotion). Palo Alto, CA, Stanford Health Promotion Resource Center, 1989.
15.
National Cancer Institute: COMMIT Protocol Summary: Community Intervention Trial for Smoking Cessation . Bethesda, MD, National Cancer Institute, 1988.
16.
Shopland D.: ASSIST project targets cancer mortality. Chronic Disease Notes and Reports 2(1):3, 1989.
17.
Green L., Kreuter M.: CDC's planned approach to community health as an application of PRECEED and an inspiration for PROCEED. Health Educ23:140-144, 1992.
18.
Steckler A. , Orville K., Eng E., Dawson L.: Summary of a formative evaluation of PATCH . J Health Educ23(3):174-178, 1992.
19.
Davis D.: A systems approach to the prevention of alcohol and other drug problems . Fam Resource Coalition10:3, 1991.
20.
Wandersman A., Goodman R.: Community partnerships for alcohol and other drug abuse prevention. Fam Resource Coalition10:8-9, 1991.
21.
Tarlov A., Kehrer B., Hall D., Samuels S., Brown G., Felix M., Ross J.: Foundation work: The health promotion program of the Henry Kaiser Family Foundation. Am J Health Promotion2(2):74-80, 1987.
22.
Butterfoss F., Goodman R., Wandersman A.: Community coalitions for prevention and health promotion. Health Educ Res8(3):315-330, 1993.
23.
Florin P., Wandersman A.: An introduction to citizen participation, voluntary organizations, and community development: Insights for empowerment through research. Am J Community Psychol18(1):41-54, 1990.
24.
Wandersman A. , Goodman R., Rogers T., Altman D.: Increasing the Efficiency of Community Coalitions Through Basic Action Research, Program Planning, Implementation, and Dissemination . Unpublished manuscript, Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, 1990.
25.
Florin P., Mitchell R., Stevenson J.: Identifying training and technical assistance needs in community coalitions: A developmental approach. Health Educ Res20(4):417-432, 1993.
26.
Herman K., Wolfson M., Forster J.: The evolution, operation and future of Minnesota SAFPLAN: A coalition for family planning. Health Educ Res20(4):331-344,1993.
27.
Rogers T., Howard-Pitney B., Feighery E., Altman D., Endres J., Roeseler A.: Characteristics and participant perceptions of tobacco control coalitions in California. Health Educ Res20(4):345-357, 1993.
28.
Kumpfer K., Turner C., Hopkins R., Librett J.: Leadership and team effectiveness in community coalitions for the prevention of alcohol and other drug abuse. Health Educ Res20(4):359-374, 1993.
29.
Francisco V. , Paine A., Fawcett S.: A methodology for monitoring and evaluating community health coalitions. Health Educ Res20(4):403-416, 1993.
30.
Florin P., Chavis D., Wandersman A., Rich R.: A systems approach to understanding and enhancing grassroots organizations: The Block Booster Project, in Levine R, Fitzgerald H (eds.): Analysis of Dynamic Psychological Systems (Vol. 2). New York, Plenum, 1992.
31.
Prestby J., Wandersman A.: An empirical exploration of a framework of organizational viability: Maintaining block organizations. J Appl Behav Sci21(3):287-305, 1985.
32.
Giamartino G., Wandersman A.: Organizational climate correlates of viable urban block organizations. Am J Community Psychol11(5):529-541, 1983.
Wandersman A. , Florin P., Friedmann R., Meier R.: Who participates, who does not, and why? An analysis of voluntary neighborhood associations in the United States and Israel. Sociol Forum2(3):534-555, 1987.
35.
Prestby J., Wandersman A., Florin P., Rich R., Chavis D.: Benefits, costs, incentive management and participation in voluntary organizations: A means to understanding and promoting empowerment. Am J Community Psychol18(1):117-149, 1990.
36.
Cammann C., Fishman S., Jenkins T., Klesh L.: Attitudes and perceptions of organizational members, in Seashore S, Lawler E, Mirvis P, Cammann C (Eds.): Assessing Organizational Change. New York , Wiley, 1983.
37.
Butterfoss F. , Goodman R., Wandersman A., Valois R., Chinman M.: The Plan Quality Index: A research and consultation tool for measuring and improving the quality of plans. In Fetterman D, Kaftarian S , Wandersman A (eds.): Community Empowerment Evaluation, in press.
38.
Franchak S., Norton E.: Business, Industry and Labor Involvement: Guidelines for Planning and Evaluating Vocational Educational Programs. Columbus , Ohio State University, National Center for Research in Vocational Education , 1984.
39.
Klitzner M.: National Evaluation Plan for Fighting Back. Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Princeton, NJ, 1991.
40.
Kroutil L., Eng E.: Conceptualizing and assessing potential for community participation: A planning method. Health Educ Res4(3):305-319, 1989.
41.
Nelson S.: How Healthy Is Your School? Guidelines for Evaluating School Health Promotion . New York, National Center for Health Education (NCHE) Press, 1986.
42.
Steckler A. , Dawson L., Herndon S.: Analysis of health education sections of health systems plans. Health Educ Q7:186-202, 1980.
43.
Knoke D., White-Isak C.: Individual motives and organizational incentive systems. Res Soc Organiz1:209-254, 1982.
44.
Wandersman A. , Goodman R., Butterfoss F., Imm P.: CSAP Quarterly Evaluation Report for Fighting Back. Columbia, University of South Carolina, Depts. of Psychology, School of Public Health, Department of Health Promotion and Education, 1992.
45.
Norton S., Wandersman A., Goldman C.: Perceived costs and benefits of membership in a self-help group: Comparisons of members and nonmembers of the Alliance for the Mentally Ill . Comm Mental Health29(2):143-160, 1993.
46.
Wallerstein N., Bernstein E.: Introduction to community empowerment, participatory education, and health. Health Educ Q21(2):141-148, 1994.
47.
Bernstein E. , Wallerstein N., Braithwaite R., Gutierrez L., LaBonte R., Zimmerman M.: Empowerment forum: A dialogue between guest editorial board members. Health Educ Q21 (3):281-294, 1994.
48.
Goodman R., Steckler A., Hoover S., Schwartz R.: A critique of contemporary community health promotion approaches: Maine—Amultiple case study. Am J Health Promotion7(3):208-220, 1993.
