Theories, models and frameworks used in capacity building interventions relevant to public health: a systematic review

Abstract

BackgroundThere is limited research on capacity building interventions that include theoretical foundations. The purpose of this systematic review is to identify underlying theories, models and frameworks used to support capacity building interventions relevant to public health practice. The aim is to inform and improve capacity building practices and services offered by public health organizations.MethodsFour search strategies were used: 1) electronic database searching; 2) reference lists of included papers; 3) key informant consultation; and 4) grey literature searching. Inclusion and exclusion criteria are outlined with included papers focusing on capacity building, learning plans, professional development plans in combination with tools, resources, processes, procedures, steps, model, framework, guideline, described in a public health or healthcare setting, or non-government, government, or community organizations as they relate to healthcare, and explicitly or implicitly mention a theory, model and/or framework that grounds the type of capacity building approach developed. Quality assessment were performed on all included articles. Data analysis included a process for synthesizing, analyzing and presenting descriptive summaries, categorizing theoretical foundations according to which theory, model and/or framework was used and whether or not the theory, model or framework was implied or explicitly identified.ResultsNineteen articles were included in this review. A total of 28 theories, models and frameworks were identified. Of this number, two theories (Diffusion of Innovations and Transformational Learning), two models (Ecological and Interactive Systems Framework for Dissemination and Implementation) and one framework (Bloom’s Taxonomy of Learning) were identified as the most frequently cited.ConclusionsThis review identifies specific theories, models and frameworks to support capacity building interventions relevant to public health organizations. It provides public health practitioners with a menu of potentially usable theories, models and frameworks to support capacity building efforts. The findings also support the need for the use of theories, models or frameworks to be intentional, explicitly identified, referenced and for it to be clearly outlined how they were applied to the capacity building intervention.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s12889-017-4919-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

ACTION for Men: Study Protocol of a Community Capacity Building Intervention to Develop and Implement Gender-Sensitive Physical Activity Programs for Men 50 Plus

“…In summary, A4M is designed to expand knowledge and understanding of frameworks and proceedings that are a good fit for capacity building interventions (17). Furthermore, it is expected to foster our understanding of how to consider masculinity in PA promotion interventions.…”

“…Capacity building is regarded as a fundamental prerequisite for health-related changes and for a sustainable impact on public health (13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18). As a core principle of health promotion worldwide it is a required action in the WHO Bangkok Charter for Health Promotion (12).…”

Extending the scope of community pharmacists’ practice to patients requiring urgent care – An evaluation of a training programme using the Theoretical Domains Framework

“…Designing and implementing an integrated health system is likely to require some reorganisation of primary, mental and acute care in order to deliver the right care to patients, at the right time, in the right place, from the right provider (NHS England, ). It is also likely to require resources to support capacity building to enable effective delivery of care at a number of levels, including knowledge and skills training for practitioners (capacity building at the individual level), and expansion of support and infrastructure (capacity building at the contextual, organisational and macro levels) to produce strategic benefits to a health system (Bergeron et al., ; Murphy, Gardner, Kutcher, & Martin‐Misener, ). Yet most capacity building addresses the individual level because organisational and macro level changes are not within the scope of interventions that aim to enhance individual capacity, and instead include some elements of how to address barriers to implementing knowledge and skills in practice in the training.…”

The theoretical order as a means of professionalizing health promotion

“…For the sake of precision, it needs to be admitted that this behav ioural approach is not the entire theoretical armoury. For example, it is known that 28 different theories, models or theoretical frameworks are used for the purpose of building the public health capacity, and above all health promotion [41].…”