Citation

Smith ML, Schneider EC, Byers IN, Shubert TE, Wilson AD, Towne SD, Ory MG. Front. Public Health 2017; 5: e120.

Affiliation

Department of Health Promotion and Community Health Sciences, Texas A&M School of Public Health, College Station, TX, United States.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Frontiers Editorial Office)

DOI

10.3389/fpubh.2017.00120

PMID

28642861

PMCID

PMC5462909

Abstract

Although the concepts of systems change and sustainability are not new, little is known about the factors associated with systems change sustaining multi-state, multi-level fall prevention efforts. This exploratory study focuses on three State Departments of Health (DOH) that were awarded 5-year funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to simultaneously implement four separate yet related evidence-based fall prevention initiatives at the clinical, community, and policy level. The purpose of this study was to examine changes in partnerships and collaborative activities that occurred to accomplish project goals (examining changes in the context of "before funding" and "after funding was received"). Additionally, this study explored changes in State DOH perceptions about action related to sustainability indicators in the context of "during funding" and "after funding ends." Findings from this study document the partnership and activity changes necessary to achieve defined fall prevention goals after funding is received, and that the importance of sustainability indicator documentation is seen as relevant during funding, but less so after the funding ends.

FINDINGS from this study have practice and research implications that can inform future funded efforts in terms of sector and stakeholder engagement necessary for initiating, implementing, and sustaining community- and clinical-based fall prevention interventions.

Language: en

Keywords

evaluation; evidence-based programs; fall prevention; intervention; older adults; sustainability; systems change