Applying the RE-AIM model and Realist Evaluation to asset-based community health interventions: a multiple case study in Tower Hamlets, London, UK

Public health policy and practice principally acknowledge a needs-based approach when developing, implementing, and evaluating community health programs. This needs-based perspective receives criticism because it focuses too... [ view full abstract ]

Public health policy and practice principally acknowledge a needs-based approach when developing, implementing, and evaluating community health programs. This needs-based perspective receives criticism because it focuses too heavily on what is missing or wrong with communities as opposed to building on their strengths. As a result, community members are perceived as passive recipients, which is disempowering, and ultimately risks creating unsustainable and ineffective programs. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in an alternative lens, the asset-based approach, which accentuates positive capabilities. While the amount of literature discussing the benefits of this perspective has grown substantially, accompanying evaluation required to sustain continued investment has been limited. Compared to needs-based research, there exists less literature on asset-based evaluation. Emphasis on such research could progress standardization of evaluation methodologies and theories bringing a dimension of universality of the approach to researchers, ultimately encouraging its use. The purpose of this study is to apply an existing public health evaluation framework – the RE-AIM model (Glasgow, Vogt, and Boles, 1999) – to asset-based community health interventions. To examine the utility of such an evaluation structure across a variety of asset-based health projects. A multiple case study design facilitated comparison of the applicability of the RE-AIM model dimensions – Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance across three cases in the East London borough of Tower Hamlets, United Kingdom. These include the Local Links Asset-mapping project, the Healthy Early Years Project, and the Good Moves project. The RE-AIM framework is additionally guided by principles of the Realist Evaluation approach (Pawson and Tilley, 1997). This research study contributes to asset-based research by supporting the development of asset-based intervention evaluation theory and practice.