title: Factors influencing perceived sustainability of Dutch community health programs.
abstract: We assessed the perceived sustainability of community health programs organized by local intersectoral coalitions, as well as the factors that collaborating partners think might influence sustainability. Semi-structured interviews were conducted among 31 collaborating partners of 5 community health programs in deprived neighborhoods in the southern part of the Netherlands. The interview guide was based on a conceptual framework that includes factors related to the context, the leading organization, leadership, the coalition, collaborating partners, interventions and outcomes. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and content analyzed using NVivo 8.0. Participants in each of the programs varied in their perceptions of the sustainability of the program, but those people collaborating in pre-existing neighborhood structures expressed relatively high faith in their continuation. The participating citizens in particular believed that these structures would continue to address the health of the community in the future. We found factors from all categories of the conceptual framework that were perceived to influence sustainability. The program leaders appeared to be crucial to the programs, as they were frequently mentioned in close interaction with other factors. Program leaders should use a motivating and supportive leadership style and should act as 'program champions'.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion, CAPHRI, Maastricht University, PO Box 616, Maastricht, MD 6200, The Netherlands Department of Health Promotion, GGD Zuid Limburg, PO Box 2022, Geleen, HA 6160, The Netherlands Academic Centre for Public Health Limburg, Maastricht, PO Box 2022, Geleen, HA 6160, The Netherlands anita.vermeer@ggdzl.nl.
authors.forename: A J M
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Vermeer
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion, CAPHRI, Maastricht University, PO Box 616, Maastricht, MD 6200, The Netherlands Academic Centre for Public Health Limburg, Maastricht, PO Box 2022, Geleen, HA 6160, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van Assema
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion, GGD Zuid Limburg, PO Box 2022, Geleen, HA 6160, The Netherlands Academic Centre for Public Health Limburg, Maastricht, PO Box 2022, Geleen, HA 6160, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hesdahl
authors.affiliation: Academic Medical Centre/University of Amsterdam, PO Box 22660, Amsterdam, DD 1100, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harting
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Promotion, CAPHRI, Maastricht University, PO Box 616, Maastricht, MD 6200, The Netherlands Academic Centre for Public Health Limburg, Maastricht, PO Box 2022, Geleen, HA 6160, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: De Vries
mesh_terms: D003153:Community Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019058:Community Networks / Q000458:organization & administration; D003256:Community Participation / Q000379:methods; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007857:Leadership; D009426:Netherlands; D011204:Poverty Areas
keywords: coalitions; community health promotion; leadership; sustainability