title: [Networks of experiences on community health as an information system in health promotion: lessons learned in Aragon (Spain)].
abstract: Networks of community health experiences promote interaction and knowledge management in health promotion among their participants. These networks integrate both professionals and social agents who work directly on the ground in small environments, with defined objectives and inclusion criteria and voluntary participation. In this article, networks in Aragon (Spain) are reviewed in order to analyse their role as an information system. The Health Promotion Projects Network of Aragon (Red Aragonesa de Proyectos de Promoción de la Salud, RAPPS) was launched in 1996 and currently includes 73 projects. The average duration of projects is 12.7 years. RAPPS interdisciplinary teams involve 701 people, of which 89.6% are professionals and 10.6% are social agents. The Aragon Health Promoting Schools Network (Red Aragonesa de Escuelas Promotoras de Salud, RAEPS) integrates 134 schools (24.9% of Aragon). The schools teams involve 829 teachers and members of the school community, students (35.2%), families (26.2%) and primary care health professionals (9.8%). Experiences Networks boost citizen participation, have an influence in changing social determinants and contribute to the formulation of plans and regional strategies. Networks can provide indicators for a health promotion information and monitoring system on: capacity building services in the territory, identifying assets and models of good practice, cross-sectoral and equity initiatives. Experiences Networks represent an opportunity to create a health promotion information system, systematising available information and establishing quality criteria for initiatives.
authors.affiliation: Sistema de Asesoramiento y Recursos en Educación para la Salud (SARES), Dirección General de Salud Pública, Gobierno de Aragón, Zaragoza, España. Electronic address: jgallego@aragon.es.
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gállego-Diéguez
authors.affiliation: Sistema de Asesoramiento y Recursos en Educación para la Salud (SARES), Dirección General de Salud Pública, Gobierno de Aragón, Zaragoza, España.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aliaga Traín
authors.affiliation: Grupo PACAP (Programa de Actividades Comunitarias en Atención Primaria) de Aragón, Sociedad Aragonesa de Medicina de Familia y Comunitaria (SAMFYC), Zaragoza, España.
authors.forename: Carmen Belén
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Benedé Azagra
authors.affiliation: Sistema de Asesoramiento y Recursos en Educación para la Salud (SARES), Dirección General de Salud Pública, Gobierno de Aragón, Zaragoza, España.
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bueno Franco
authors.affiliation: Sistema de Asesoramiento y Recursos en Educación para la Salud (SARES), Dirección General de Salud Pública, Gobierno de Aragón, Zaragoza, España.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ferrer Gracia
authors.affiliation: Sistema de Asesoramiento y Recursos en Educación para la Salud (SARES), Dirección General de Salud Pública, Gobierno de Aragón, Zaragoza, España.
authors.forename: José Ramón
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Ipiéns Sarrate
authors.affiliation: Sistema de Asesoramiento y Recursos en Educación para la Salud (SARES), Dirección General de Salud Pública, Gobierno de Aragón, Zaragoza, España.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Muñoz Nadal
authors.affiliation: Sistema de Asesoramiento y Recursos en Educación para la Salud (SARES), Dirección General de Salud Pública, Gobierno de Aragón, Zaragoza, España.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Plumed Parrilla
authors.affiliation: Sistema de Asesoramiento y Recursos en Educación para la Salud (SARES), Dirección General de Salud Pública, Gobierno de Aragón, Zaragoza, España.
authors.forename: Begoña
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vilches Urrutia
mesh_terms: D057191:Capacity Building; D019058:Community Networks; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods*; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011634:Public Health; D012574:Schools; D013030:Spain
keywords: Capacity building; Capital social; Community development; Community networks; Creación de capacidad; Desarrollo comunitario; Empoderamiento; Empowerment; Gestión del conocimiento; Health promotion; Information systems; Knowledge management; Promoción de la salud; Redes comunitarias; Sistemas de información; Social capital