title: Continued benefits of a technical assistance web site to local tobacco control coalitions during a state budget shortfall.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A state budget shortfall defunded 10 local tobacco coalitions during a randomized trial but defunded coalitions continued to have access to 2 technical assistance Web sites.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To test the ability of Web-based technology to provide technical assistance to local tobacco control coalitions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized 2-group trial with local tobacco control coalitions as the unit of randomization.
  
  
  METHODS
  Local communities (ie, counties) within the State of Colorado.
  
  
  METHODS
  Leaders and members in 34 local tobacco control coalitions funded by the state health department in Colorado.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two technical assistance Web sites: A Basic Web site with text-based information and a multimedia Enhanced Web site containing learning modules, resources, and communication features.
  
  
  METHODS
  Use of the Web sites in minutes, pages, and session and evaluations of coalition functioning on coalition development, conflict resolution, leadership satisfaction, decision-making satisfaction, shared mission, personal involvement, and organization involvement in survey of leaders and members.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Coalitions that were defunded but had access to the multimedia Enhanced Web site during the Fully Funded period and after defunding continued to use it (treatment group × funding status × period, F(3,714) = 3.18, P = .0234). Coalitions with access to the Basic Web site had low Web site use throughout and use by defunded coalitions was nearly zero when funding ceased. Members in defunded Basic Web site coalitions reported that their coalitions functioned worse than defunded Enhanced Web site coalitions (coalition development: group × status, F(1,360) = 4.81, P = .029; conflict resolution: group × status, F(1,306) = 5.69, P = .018; leadership satisfaction: group × status, F(1,342) = 5.69, P = .023).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Enhanced Web site may have had a protective effect on defunded coalitions. Defunded coalitions may have increased their capacity by using the Enhanced Web site when fully funded or by continuing to use the available online resources after defunding. Web-based technical assistance with online training and resources may be a good investment when future funding is not ensured.
authors.affiliation: Klein Buendel, Inc, Golden, Colorado 80401, USA. dbulle@kleinbuendel.com
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Buller
authors.forename: Walter F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Erwin P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Bettinghaus
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Borland
authors.forename: Joseph B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Walther
authors.forename: Donald
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Helme
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Gary R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Cutter
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Maloy
mesh_terms: D000288:Administrative Personnel / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D024803:Biomedical Enhancement; D002017:Budgets / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003120:Colorado; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005380:Financing, Government; D006265:Health Care Coalitions / Q000191:economics*; D006290:Health Planning Technical Assistance; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007857:Leadership; D009111:Local Government; D019212:Multimedia; D013219:State Government; D020340:Tobacco Use Cessation / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods