A Qualitative Study of Health Equity's Role in Community Coalition Development
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| Title: | A Qualitative Study of Health Equity's Role in Community Coalition Development |
|---|---|
| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Sadie Chen (ORCID |
| Source: | Health Education & Behavior. 2024 51(4):613-624. |
| Availability: | SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 12 |
| Publication Date: | 2024 |
| Sponsoring Agency: | Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (DHHS/PHS) National Institutes of Health (NIH) (DHHS) |
| Contract Number: | UM1DA049394 UM1DA049406 UM1DA049412 UM1DA049415 UM1DA049417 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Drug Abuse, Narcotics, Social Differences, Public Health, Death, Minority Groups, Prevention, Community Action, Role, Race, Ethnicity, Barriers, Diversity, Community Needs, Intervention |
| DOI: | 10.1177/10901981231179755 |
| ISSN: | 1090-1981 1552-6127 |
| Abstract: | Opioid overdose deaths are dramatically increasing in the United States and disproportionately affecting minority communities, with the increasing presence of fentanyl exacerbating this crisis. Developing community coalitions is a long-standing strategy used to address public health issues. However, there is a limited understanding of how coalitions operate amid a serious public health crisis. To address this gap, we leveraged data from the HEALing Communities Study (HCS)--a multisite implementation study aiming to reduce opioid overdose deaths in 67 communities. Researchers analyzed transcripts of 321 qualitative interviews conducted with members of 56 coalitions in the four states participating in the HCS. There were no a priori interests in themes, and emergent themes were identified through inductive thematic analysis and then mapped to the constructs of the Community Coalition Action Theory (CCAT). Themes emerged related to coalition development and highlighted the role of health equity in the inner workings of coalitions addressing the opioid epidemic. Coalition members reported seeing the lack of racial and ethnic diversity within their coalitions as a barrier to their work. However, when coalitions focused on health equity, they noted that their effectiveness and ability to tailor their initiatives to their communities' needs were strengthened. Based on our findings, we suggest two additions to enhance the CCAT: (a) incorporating health equity as an overarching construct that affects all stages of development, and (b) ensuring that data about individuals served are included within the pooled resource construct to enable monitoring of health equity. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2024 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1428685 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | Opioid overdose deaths are dramatically increasing in the United States and disproportionately affecting minority communities, with the increasing presence of fentanyl exacerbating this crisis. Developing community coalitions is a long-standing strategy used to address public health issues. However, there is a limited understanding of how coalitions operate amid a serious public health crisis. To address this gap, we leveraged data from the HEALing Communities Study (HCS)--a multisite implementation study aiming to reduce opioid overdose deaths in 67 communities. Researchers analyzed transcripts of 321 qualitative interviews conducted with members of 56 coalitions in the four states participating in the HCS. There were no a priori interests in themes, and emergent themes were identified through inductive thematic analysis and then mapped to the constructs of the Community Coalition Action Theory (CCAT). Themes emerged related to coalition development and highlighted the role of health equity in the inner workings of coalitions addressing the opioid epidemic. Coalition members reported seeing the lack of racial and ethnic diversity within their coalitions as a barrier to their work. However, when coalitions focused on health equity, they noted that their effectiveness and ability to tailor their initiatives to their communities' needs were strengthened. Based on our findings, we suggest two additions to enhance the CCAT: (a) incorporating health equity as an overarching construct that affects all stages of development, and (b) ensuring that data about individuals served are included within the pooled resource construct to enable monitoring of health equity. |
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| ISSN: | 1090-1981 1552-6127 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/10901981231179755 |
