Our Healthy Community Conceptual Framework and Intervention Model for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in Municipalities

Mette Aadahl; Henrik Vardinghus-Nielsen; Paul Bloch; Thea Suldrup Jørgensen; Charlotta Pisinger; Mette Kirstine Tørslev; Charlotte Demant Klinker; Signe Damsbo Birch; Henrik Bøggild; Ulla Toft

doi:10.3390/ijerph20053901

Our Healthy Community Conceptual Framework and Intervention Model for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention in Municipalities

Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Feb 22;20(5):3901. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20053901.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Nordre Fasanvej 57, 2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark.
² Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 N Copenhagen, Denmark.
³ Public Health and Epidemiology Group, Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Niels Jernes Vej 14, 9220 Aalborg Ø, Denmark.
⁴ Steno Diabetes Center Copenhagen, Health Promotion Research, Borgmester Ib Juuls Vej 83, 2730 Herlev, Denmark.
⁵ Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 2200 N Copenhagen, Denmark.

Abstract

This paper introduces the conceptual framework and intervention model of Our Healthy Community (OHC), a new, coordinated, and integrated approach towards health promotion and disease prevention in municipalities. The model is inspired by systems-based approaches and employs a supersetting approach for engaging stakeholders across sectors in the development and implementation of interventions to increase health and well-being among citizens. The conceptual model includes a combination of a bottom-up approach emphasizing involvement of citizens and other community-based stakeholders combined with a top-down approach emphasizing political, legal, administrative, and technical support from a variety of councils and departments in local municipality government. The model operates bidirectionally: (1) by pushing political and administrative processes to promote the establishment of conducive structural environments for making healthy choices, and (2) by involving citizens and professional stakeholders at all levels in co-creating processes of shaping their own community and municipality. An operational intervention model was further developed by the OHC project while working with the OHC in two Danish municipalities. The operational intervention model of OHC comprises three main phases and key actions to be implemented at the levels of local government and community: (1) Local government: Situational analysis, dialogue, and political priorities; (2) Community: Thematic co-creation among professional stakeholders; and (3) Target area: Intervention development and implementation. The OHC model will provide municipalities with new tools to improve the citizens' health and well-being with available resources. Health promotion and disease prevention interventions are developed, implemented, and anchored in the local community by citizens and local stakeholders at municipal and local community levels using collaboration and partnerships as leverage points.

Keywords: co-creation; community; community-based intervention; health in all policies; health promotion; implementation; intersectoral action; partnership; supersetting approach.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Cities
Health Promotion*
Health Status*
Local Government
Research Design

Grants and funding

This work was supported by research grants from The Tryg Foundation (grant numbers 125130 and 152361), the Health Foundation (Helsefonden) (grant numbers 18-A-0087 and 21-A-0054), the Research Foundation of Danish Region (no grant number), and The Capital Region of Denmark (no grant number).