title: A novel community-based model to enhance health promotion, risk factor management and chronic disease prevention.
abstract: Chronic disease is a highly expensive but preventable problem to the healthcare system. Evidence suggests that impacting modifiable behaviours and risk management factors in the areas of physical inactivity, unhealthy diet, stress and obesity can alleviate the burden of chronic disease problem to a large extent. Despite this recognition, the challenge is embedding these recognized priorities into the community and in primary care in a sustainable and meaningful manner. Primary Health Care in Capital Health responded to this challenge by developing and implementing a free, interprofessional and community-based service, namely, the Community Health Teams (CHTs), that offers health and wellness, risk factor management, wellness navigation and behaviour-based programming. In this paper, the development and implementation of the CHTs are discussed. Preliminary outcomes for the model are significant and promising. Formal and large-scale studies are planned to validate these outcomes with additional research rigour.
authors.affiliation: Health Management, Executive Training for Research Application (EXTRA) fellow, is a health services manager in primary healthcare at Capital Health District Health Authority, in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
authors.forename: Shannon Ryan
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Carson
authors.affiliation: American College of Sports Medicine Certified Clinical Exercise Specialist, is a team leader and physiotherapist with the Community Health Team, Capital Health.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carr
authors.affiliation: Health services manager in primary healthcare at Capital Health.
authors.forename: Graeme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kohler
authors.affiliation: Health services director responsible for primary healthcare and the District Department of Family Practice at Capital Health.
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.affiliation: Family physician and chief of the Capital Health District Department of Family Practice.
authors.forename: Rick
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gibson
authors.affiliation: Assistant director of quality, research and knowledge management in primary healthcare, Capital Health. She is also assistant professor in the Department of Medical Informatics at Dalhousie University, in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
authors.forename: Tara
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sampalli
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015444:Exercise; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods* / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D017146:Models, Organizational; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012307:Risk Factors; D012308:Risk Management / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration