TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2018//
TI  - Challenges in doing multi-disciplinary health promotion research in Germany
JO  - Health promotion international
A1  - Igel, Ulrike
A1  - Gausche, Ruth
A1  - Lück, Martina
A1  - Lipek, Tobias
A1  - Spielau, Ulrike
A1  - Garz, Maria
A1  - Kiess, Wieland
A1  - Grande, Gesine
SP  - 1082
EP  - 1089
VL  - 33
IS  - 6
N2  - Health problems such as obesity are increasingly addressed by complex intervention programmes which operate at multiple levels of influence (e.g. families, schools, neighbourhoods) involving partners from various academic, professional and cultural backgrounds. Following a complex participatory health promotion approach is challenging, because conflicting interests as well as contextual constraints may occur which are rarely discussed empirically. Process evaluations of some programmes investigate factors influencing the implementation process. However, researchers' perspectives on inter- and transdisciplinary work are mostly neglected. This paper aims at illustrating and critically analysing challenges that arose in the planning and implementation of a health promotion project in a socially deprived neighbourhood in Germany. Drawing on minutes, email conversations, and research diary entries we reflect on discrepancies and difficult interactions within the research team, with collaborating (academic) institutions (interdisciplinary work) and with the community partners (transdisciplinary work) respectively. Differences in language, interests, success criteria, professional preferences and habits as well as contextual factors are worked out and coping strategies or solutions are proposed. According to our experiences, bringing to light researchers' positions, preferences and interactions with the community is necessary to find a balance between research and practice, to develop adequate solutions for challenging situations and to evaluate the process, effectiveness and transferability of a programme. Health promotion research should report not only on the effectiveness of interventions but also on struggles, unsuccessful attempts and useful (or useless) strategies to fuel discourse on opportunities in and the efficacy and transferability of health promotion projects.<br><br>© The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0957-4824
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/heapro/dax054
ID  - ref1
ER  -