Defining program sustainability: differing views of stakeholders

Objectives: Sustainability is a highly desired outcome of health promotion programs, yet it often eludes program planners looking to achieve it. This study aimed to uncover how the goal of program sustainability was interpreted by key stakeholders from three fall prevention program demonstration sites. Method: Collected as part of a larger study on program sustainability that made use of a multiple case study methodology, semi-structured interviews were conducted with key informants involved in a wide range of program initiatives throughout the two-year funding period. Results: Forty participants across the three sites provided definitions of sustainability. Most stakeholders reported that it was some version of the general fall prevention program that should be sustained. Fewer stakeholders reported that it was the successful elements or solutions to the program goals that should be sustained. The most common suggestions reported by stakeholders for how sustainability should be achieved were awareness raising and securing new funding sources. Although a number of key elements emerged, there were significant differences in stakeholders' definitions of sustainability, both within and between demonstration sites. Conclusion: This research provided insight into the unique meanings of sustainability held by different stakeholders during their involvement in a fall prevention program. The array of definitions held by stakeholders demonstrates how easily the efforts of those involved can become fragmented and, therefore, less effective in reaching the end goal of program sustainability when the project team is not working from the same definition of what that goal means. Key words: Program sustainability; accidental falls; health promotion La traduction du resume se trouve a la fin de l'article. Objectifs: La durabilite est un resultat fort souhaite des programmes de promotion de la sante; pourtant, il echappe souvent aux planificateurs de programme qui cherchent a l'atteindre. Cette etude vise a decouvrir comment l'objectif qu'est la durabilite d'un programme est interprete par les intervenants cles de trois sites de demonstration de programmes de prevention des chutes. Methode: Nous avons mene des entrevues semi-structurees aupres d'intervenants cles participant a un large eventail d'initiatives de programme dans le cadre d'une plus grande etude sur la durabilite des programmes, laquelle s'appuyait sur la methodologie utilisee pour l'etude de cas multiples, sur une periode de financement de deux ans. Resultats: Au total, 40 participants provenant des trois sites ont presente des definitions de ce qu'est la durabilite. La plupart des intervenants ont signale qu'il fallait conserver une version du programme general de prevention des chutes. Quelques intervenants ont signale qu'il fallait conserver les bons elements ou les solutions aux objectifs du programme. Les suggestions les plus communes presentees par les intervenants concernant la facon d'atteindre la durabilite etaient la sensibilisation accrue et l'obtention de nouvelles sources de financement. Meme si un grand nombre d'elements cles ont ete souleves, nous avons observe d'importantes differences dans les definitions de la durabilite presentees par les intervenants, tant a l'interieur des sites de demonstration qu'entre ceux-ci. Conclusion: Cette recherche donne des eclaircissements sur les significations uniques de la durabilite aux yeux des differents intervenants dans le cadre de leur participation a un programme de prevention des chutes. L'eventail de definitions fournies par les intervenants demontre la mesure dans laquelle les efforts de ces personnes peuvent etre fragmentes et, par consequent, moins efficaces en ce qui a trait a l'atteinte de l'objectif final que represente la durabilite du programme si l'equipe de projet ne travaille pas en respectant la meme definition que celle de l'objectif. Mots cles: durabilite du programme, chutes accidentelles, promotion de la sante
Sustainability is viewed as an important dimension of the quality of health promotion programs. (1) It is accepted that for communities and participants to derive long-term health benefits, programs and [...]