From heart health promotion to chronic disease prevention: contributions of the Canadian Heart Health Initiative.
BACKGROUND
The Canadian Heart Health Initiative began in 1987 as an 18-year undertaking to address the epidemic of cardiovascular disease in Canada. There is growing recognition in Canada of the need for an integrated approach to prevention that addresses common risks for many chronic diseases.


BACKGROUND
Research and intervention activities of the Canadian Heart Health Initiative have shifted toward chronic disease prevention and health promotion. This study explores the contributions of the Canadian Heart Health Initiative to document how single-disease strategies can evolve into integrated chronic disease prevention efforts.


METHODS
Key informant interviews were conducted with project researchers and health system stakeholders from seven Canadian Heart Health Initiative provincial projects. A review of provincial health policy documents was also performed.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings indicate that the Canadian Heart Health Initiative projects contributed to public health capacity development, including coalition and partnership building, and development of health knowledge and resource infrastructure. The Canadian Heart Health Initiative projects helped put chronic disease prevention issues onto local and provincial health agendas and provided community-based models to help develop public health policies.


CONCLUSIONS
Experience with the Canadian Heart Health Initiative shows the need for integrated health programs to build on existing infrastructure. Other requirements for integrated chronic disease prevention programs include shared goals, partnerships at various policy levels and in multiple sectors, ongoing information sharing, and funding that is flexible and long-term.
Robinson
Kerry
K
School of Geography and Earth Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main St W, Hamilton, ON, Canada L8S 4K1. krobins@mcmaster.ca
Farmer
Tracy
T
Elliott
Susan J
SJ
Eyles
John
J
D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006291:Health Policy; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*