Journal article
Mobilising cross-sector collaborations to improve population health in US rural communities: a qualitative study
BMJ open, Vol.9(11), e030983
11/06/2019
DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-030983
PMCID: PMC6858126
PMID: 31699729
Abstract
ObjectivesThis study examines types and forms of cross-sector collaborations employed by rural communities to address community health issues and identifies factors facilitating or inhibiting such collaborations.SettingWe conducted case studies of four rural communities in the US state of Iowa that have demonstrated progress in creating healthier communities.ParticipantsKey informants from local public health departments, hospitals and other health-promoting organisations and groups participated in this study. Twenty-two key-informant interviews were conducted. Participants were selected based on their organisation’s involvement in community health initiatives.ResultsRural communities used different forms of collaborations, including cross-sector partnership, cross-sector interaction and cross-sector exploration, to address community health issues. Stakeholders from public health, healthcare, social services, education and business sectors were involved. Factors facilitating cross-sector collaborations include health-promoting local contexts, seed initiatives that mobilise communities, hospital visions that embrace broad views of health and shared collaboration leadership and governance. Challenges to developing and sustaining cross-sector collaborations include different institutional logics, financial and human resources constraints and geographic dispersion.ConclusionsRural communities use cross-sector collaborations to address community health issues in the forms of interaction and exploration, but real and lasting partnerships are rare. The development, operation and sustainment of cross-sector collaborations are influenced by a set of contextual and practical factors. Practical strategies and policy interventions may be used to enhance cross-sector collaborations in rural communities.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Mobilising cross-sector collaborations to improve population health in US rural communities: a qualitative study
- Creators
- Xi Zhu - College of Public Health, Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USAPaula Weigel - College of Public Health, Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USAJure Baloh - Department of Health Policy and Management, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USAMochamad Nataliansyah - College of Public Health, Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USANichole Gunn - College of Public Health, Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USAKeith Mueller - College of Public Health, Department of Health Management and Policy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- BMJ open, Vol.9(11), e030983
- DOI
- 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-030983
- PMID
- 31699729
- PMCID
- PMC6858126
- NLM abbreviation
- BMJ Open
- ISSN
- 2044-6055
- eISSN
- 2044-6055
- Grant note
- DOI: 10.13039/100000867, name: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, award: 73062
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 11/06/2019
- Academic Unit
- Health Management and Policy; Public Policy Center (Archive); Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984221635502771
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