Skip to main content

Table 5 Summary of data reported for creating enabling structures and conditions (proposition six)

From: Is reporting on interventions a weak link in understanding how and why they work? A preliminary exploration using community heart health exemplars

Operational Definition

Information Reported on Propositions

Illustrative Examples

Proposition six: Enabling structures and conditions

Descriptions of the creation of structures (infrastructure) and conditions (processes and relationships) at system levels that support the design, implementation and/or evaluation of interventions, such as : media support; incentive grants; capacity building (for providers, organizations, communities); mechanisms for monitoring, evaluation, surveillance; networks; active citizen participation; opinion leader support.

Information regarding the deliberate creation of enabling structures and conditions was embedded in descriptions of intervention implementation.

'There was great stress placed on efforts to teach practical skills for change such as smoking cessation techniques and ways of buying and cooking healthier foods. For the latter, close co-operation with the local housewives' association has been proven invaluable, Activities have been coordinated to provide social support, expand options and availability (i.e., production and marketing of healthier foods), and ultimately to organize the community to function in a healthier mode' [30: p.40]

'Information gained from the community, clinical and youth baseline surveys about knowledge and lifestyles was shared in community meetings, with professional opinion leaders and published in easily understandable form for the local population...This served as a great force for...winning commitment from key decision makers, and motivating change among individuals and organizations.' [38: p.17]