A critical discussion of the Community Readiness Model using a case study of childhood obesity prevention in England

The community readiness model (CRM) was used to assess changes in community readiness across four counties in Georgia that were targeted as part of a 3-year Childhood Obesity Prevention Program. Key respondent interviews were conducted with community stakeholders in 2012 (n = 20) and 2017 (n = 18) using a semistructured questionnaire assessing six dimensions of community readiness (i.e., community efforts, community knowledge of efforts, leadership, community climate, community knowledge about the issue, and resources available to support efforts). Interviews were analyzed using the CRM scoring protocol and qualitative methods. Paired t tests were used to compare mean score differences between baseline and follow-up assessments. At baseline, overall mean readiness scores for the four counties ranged from 4.52 to 5.05 on the CRM 9-point scale. At follow-up, overall readiness scores ranged from 6.01 to 6.97 out of 9.00. Data revealed a statistically significant improvement in scores across all communities (+1.70, p = .007; 95% confidence interval [0.87, 2.51]). Data also revealed statistically significant improvements in every dimension of readiness, except community knowledge of the issue. Information gleaned from interviews suggested that investing in staff to support efforts, building awareness to shift the community climate, and cross sector collaboration contributed to improved community readiness among the study communities. The provision of technical assistance, peer learning opportunities, and financial support as part of a cooperative grant initiative holds promise for increasing the capacity of community coalitions to advance childhood obesity prevention efforts in their local communities.

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Readiness of communities to engage with childhood obesity prevention initiatives in disadvantaged areas of Victoria, Australia

Australian Health Review ◽

10.1071/ah16069 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 41 (3) ◽

pp. 297 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Sheila Cyril ◽

Michael Polonsky ◽

Julie Green ◽

Kingsley Agho ◽

Andre Renzaho

Keyword(s):

Childhood Obesity ◽

Obesity Prevention ◽

Developed Countries ◽

Community Readiness ◽

Obesity Prevalence ◽

Key Factors ◽

Childhood Obesity Prevention ◽

Disadvantaged Communities ◽

Prevention Services ◽

Community Readiness Model

Objective Disadvantaged communities bear a disproportionate burden of childhood obesity and show low participation in childhood obesity prevention initiatives. This study aims to examine the level of readiness of disadvantaged communities to engage with childhood obesity prevention initiatives. Methods Using the community readiness model, 95 semi-structured interviews were conducted among communities in four disadvantaged areas of Victoria, Australia. Community readiness analysis and paired t-tests were performed to assess the readiness levels of disadvantaged communities to engage with childhood obesity prevention initiatives. Results The results showed that disadvantaged communities demonstrated low levels of readiness (readiness score = 4/9, 44%) to engage with the existing childhood obesity prevention initiatives, lacked knowledge of childhood obesity and its prevention, and reported facing challenges in initiating and sustaining participation in obesity prevention initiatives. Conclusion This study highlights the need to improve community readiness by addressing low obesity-related literacy levels among disadvantaged communities and by facilitating the capacity-building of bicultural workers to deliver obesity prevention messages to these communities. Integrating these needs into existing Australian health policy and practice is of paramount importance for reducing obesity-related disparities currently prevailing in Australia. What is known about the topic? Childhood obesity prevalence is plateauing in developed countries including Australia; however, obesity-related inequalities continue to exist in Australia especially among communities living in disadvantaged areas, which experience poor engagement in childhood obesity prevention initiatives. Studies in the USA have found that assessing disadvantaged communities’ readiness to participate in health programs is a critical initial step in reducing the disproportionate obesity burden among these communities. However, no studies in Australia have assessed disadvantaged communities’ readiness to engage in obesity prevention initiatives. What does this paper add? This paper addresses the current gap in the knowledge of disadvantaged communities’ level of readiness to engage in childhood obesity prevention initiatives in Australia. The study also identified the key factors responsible for low readiness of disadvantaged communities to participate in current childhood obesity prevention services. By using the Community Readiness model this study shows the readiness levels specific to the various dimensions of the model; Understanding dimension-specific readiness allows us to identify strategies that are tailored to each dimension, as guided by the model. What are the implications for practitioners? With the increasing burden of childhood obesity on disadvantaged communities, policymakers and health practitioners are facing a crisis in obesity prevention and management. Almost every year, new interventions are being planned and implemented. However if the target communities are not ready to participate in the available interventions these efforts are futile. This study exposes the key factors responsible for low readiness to participate in current obesity prevention services by disadvantaged communities. Addressing these key factors and improving readiness before designing new interventions will improve the participation of disadvantaged communities in those interventions. The study findings ultimately have the potential of reducing obesity-related disparities in Australia.

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In Response to the Published Article “Application of the Community Readiness Model for Childhood Obesity Prevention (Findholt, 2007)”

Public Health Nursing ◽

10.1111/j.1525-1446.2008.00722.x ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 25 (5) ◽

pp. 389-389 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Kala Mayer

Keyword(s):

Childhood Obesity ◽

Obesity Prevention ◽

Community Readiness ◽

Childhood Obesity Prevention ◽

Community Readiness Model

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Community readiness for childhood obesity prevention programs: findings from an urban population in Iran

Health Promotion International ◽

10.1093/heapro/daaa101 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Mahdieh Niknam ◽

Nasrin Omidvar ◽

Parisa Amiri ◽

Hassan Eini-Zinab ◽

Naser Kalantari

Keyword(s):

Childhood Obesity ◽

Obesity Prevention ◽

Prevention Programs ◽

Local Communities ◽

Face Validity ◽

Community Readiness ◽

Childhood Obesity Prevention ◽

Community Readiness Model ◽

Interview Guide ◽

Obesity Prevention Programs

Summary This study aimed to examine the Iranian local communities’ readiness stage to engage with childhood obesity prevention programs for late primary school children in districts 2 and 16 of Tehran as the representatives of high and low socio-economic districts, respectively. First, a Delphi approach was conducted to assess the socio-cultural necessity/appropriateness and adequacy of the community readiness model and its dimensions as a planning basis for childhood obesity prevention program(s) in Iran. Then, the community readiness interview guide’s translation, modification, content and face validity were performed. Finally, 66 interviews with key informants were conducted and scored to assess community readiness. The socio-cultural necessity/appropriateness and adequacy of community readiness model and its dimensions were confirmed by Delphi participants and two questions were added to the interview guide. Content and face validity of the interview guide were at acceptable levels. Assessment of the community readiness based on the key informants’ perspective showed that the overall mean readiness score of targeted local communities was 4.61 ± 0.54 and 4.22 ± 0.26 in high and low socio-economic districts, respectively, corresponded to ‘preplanning stage’. The highest score was 5.00 ± 0.48 correspond to the ‘preparation stage’, which belonged to girls’ schools in district 2. Small differences were found in the readiness stage of local communities by sex and socio-economic status of schools. The results highlight the need to increase community awareness, gain their support to recognize childhood obesity as a priority, address cultural misconceptions and improve the obesity prevention programs to achieve a higher level of readiness.

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Sustainable childhood obesity prevention through community engagement (SCOPE) program: evaluation of the implementation phase

Biochemistry and Cell Biology ◽

10.1139/bcb-2014-0127 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 93 (5) ◽

pp. 472-478 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Bonnie McIntosh ◽

Amelia Daly ◽

Louise C. Mâsse ◽

Jean-Paul Collet ◽

Joan Wharf Higgins ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Childhood Obesity ◽

Community Engagement ◽

Obesity Prevention ◽

Telephone Interview ◽

Participatory Action ◽

Childhood Obesity Prevention ◽

Implementation Phase ◽

Partnership Development ◽

Raising Awareness

Childhood obesity rates are steadily rising. Sustainable Childhood Obesity Prevention Through Community Engagement (SCOPE) is a community-based participatory action research (PAR) program aimed at preventing childhood obesity. This study aimed to describe community perspectives on, and elicit feedback about, SCOPE’s first phase of implementation in two pilot cities in British Columbia, Canada. A case study was implemented using interviews and questionnaires to obtain feedback about SCOPE from two groups: SCOPE coordinators and stakeholders (i.e., individuals and organizations that were a member of the community and engaged with SCOPE coordinators). Participants were recruited via email and (or) by telephone. Coordinators completed a telephone interview. Stakeholders completed a questionnaire and (or) a telephone interview. Thematic analysis was conducted. Participants included 2 coordinators and 15 stakeholders. Participants similarly interpreted SCOPE as a program focused on raising awareness about childhood obesity prevention, while engaging multiple community sectors. Overall, participants valued the program’s role in facilitating networking and partnership development, providing evidence-based resources, technical expertise, and contributing funding. Participants felt that SCOPE is sustainable. However, participants felt that barriers to achieving healthy weights among children included those related to the built environment, and social, behavioral, and economic obstacles. Perspectives on factors that facilitated and acted as barriers to SCOPE’s first phase of implementation were obtained from the SCOPE communities and may be used to enhance the sustainability of SCOPE and its applicability to other BC communities.

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