title: Costs and effects of a 'healthy living' approach to community development in two deprived communities: findings from a mixed methods study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Inequalities in health have proved resistant to 'top down' approaches. It is increasingly recognised that health promotion initiatives are unlikely to succeed without strong local involvement at all stages of the process and many programmes now use grass roots approaches. A healthy living approach to community development (HLA) was developed as an innovative response to local concerns about a lack of appropriate services in two deprived communities in Pembrokeshire, West Wales. We sought to assess feasibility, costs, benefits and working relationships of this HLA.
  
  
  METHODS
  The HLA intervention operated through existing community forums and focused on the whole community and its relationship with statutory and voluntary sectors. Local people were trained as community researchers and gathered views about local needs though resident interviews. Forums used interview results to write action plans, disseminated to commissioning organisations. The process was supported throughout through the project.The evaluation used a multi-method before and after study design including process and outcome formative and summative evaluation; data gathered through documentary evidence, diaries and reflective accounts, semi-structured interviews, focus groups and costing proformas. Main outcome measures were processes and timelines of implementation of HLA; self reported impact on communities and participants; community-agency processes of liaison; costs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Communities were able to produce and disseminate action plans based on locally-identified needs. The process was slower than anticipated: few community changes had occurred but expectations were high. Community participants gained skills and confidence. Cross-sector partnership working developed. The process had credibility within service provider organisations but mechanisms for refocusing commissioning were patchy. Intervention costs averaged £58,304 per community per annum.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The intervention was feasible and inexpensive, with indications of potential impact at individual, community and policy planning levels. However, it is a long term process which requires sustained investment and must be embedded in planning and service delivery processes.
authors.affiliation: CHIRAL, College of Medicine, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA28PP, UK.
authors.forename: Helen A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Snooks
authors.forename: Bridie Angela
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nugent
authors.forename: Frances
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Rapport
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Skone
authors.forename: Angie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meredith
authors.forename: Tricia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018672:Community Health Planning / Q000191:economics*; D003256:Community Participation / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D057186:Comparative Effectiveness Research; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D054625:Healthcare Disparities; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009936:Organizational Innovation / Q000191:economics*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012922:Social Change; D014852:Wales