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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2007 May;97(5):880-6.
doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2005.063644. Epub 2007 Feb 28.

Community coalitions as a system: effects of network change on adoption of evidence-based substance abuse prevention

Thomas W Valente  1 , Chich Ping Chou, Mary Ann Pentz
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Community coalitions as a system: effects of network change on adoption of evidence-based substance abuse prevention

Thomas W Valente et al. Am J Public Health. 2007 May.

Abstract

Objectives: We examined the effect of community coalition network structure on the effectiveness of an intervention designed to accelerate the adoption of evidence-based substance abuse prevention programs.

Methods: At baseline, 24 cities were matched and randomly assigned to 3 conditions (control, satellite TV training, and training plus technical assistance). We surveyed 415 community leaders at baseline and 406 at 18-month follow-up about their attitudes and practices toward substance abuse prevention programs. Network structure was measured by asking leaders whom in their coalition they turned to for advice about prevention programs. The outcome was a scale with 4 subscales: coalition function, planning, achievement of benchmarks, and progress in prevention activities. We used multiple linear regression and path analysis to test hypotheses.

Results: Intervention had a significant effect on decreasing the density of coalition networks. The change in density subsequently increased adoption of evidence-based practices.

Conclusions: Optimal community network structures for the adoption of public health programs are unknown, but it should not be assumed that increasing network density or centralization are appropriate goals. Lower-density networks may be more efficient for organizing evidence-based prevention programs in communities.

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Figures

FIGURE 1—
FIGURE 1—
Change in program adoption outcomes by change in network density with Ordinary Least Squares Regression Estimate. Note. Coalitions are indicated by Control (0) or Intervention (1).
FIGURE 2—
FIGURE 2—
Path model of the effects of treatment, baseline density, and wave 2 density on community-level adoption of prevention programs. Note. STEP = Steps Toward Effective Prevention. The model indicates that the Steps Toward Effective Prevention intervention decreased network density. Decreased network density was associated with increased program adoption.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Institute of Medicine. Assuring the Health of the Public in the 21st Century. Washington, DC: National Academy Press; 2002.
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    1. Saxe L, Reber E, Hallfors D, et al. Think globally, act locally: assessing the impact of community-based substance abuse prevention. Eval Program Plann. 1997; 20:357–366.

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MeSH terms