Analyzing a community-based coalition's efforts to reduce health disparities and the risk for chronic disease in Kansas City, Missouri.
BACKGROUND
Although it is well known that racial and ethnic minorities in the United States have a higher prevalence of chronic diseases and a higher rate of related deaths than the overall U.S. population, less is understood about how to create conditions that will reduce these disparities.


BACKGROUND
We examined the effectiveness of a collaborative community initiative--the Kansas City-Chronic Disease Coalition--as a catalyst for community changes designed to reduce the risk for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes among African Americans and Hispanics in Kansas City, Missouri.


METHODS
Using an empirical case study design, we documented and analyzed community changes (i.e., new or modified programs, policies, or practices) facilitated by the coalition, information that may be useful later in determining the extent to which these changes may contribute to a reduced risk for adverse health outcomes among members of the target population. We also used interviews with key partners to identify factors that may be critical to the coalition's success.


RESULTS
We found that the coalition facilitated 321 community changes from October 2001 through December 2004. Of these changes, 75% were designed to reduce residents' risk for both cardiovascular disease and diabetes, 56% targeted primarily African Americans, and 56% were ongoing. The most common of several strategies was to provide health-related information to or enhance the health-related skills of residents (38%).


CONCLUSIONS
Results suggest that the coalition's actions were responsible for numerous community changes and that certain factors such as hiring community mobilizers and providing financial support to nontraditional partners may have accelerated the rate at which these changes were made. In addition, our analysis of the distribution of changes by various parameters (e.g., by goal, target population, and duration) may be useful in predicting future population-level health improvement.
Collie-Akers
Vicki L
VL
Work Group for Community Health and Development, 1000 Sunnyside Ave., Dole Center, Room 4082, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045, USA. vcollie@ku.edu
Fawcett
Stephen B
SB
Schultz
Jerry A
JA
Carson
Valorie
V
Cyprus
John
J
Pierle
Joseph E
JE
D001741:Black or African American; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006304:Health Status; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008913:Minority Groups; D008923:Missouri; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013997:Time Factors