A Systematic Review of Community Readiness Tool Applications: Implications for Reporting

Abstract

Background: A systematic review characterised and synthesised applications of the Community Readiness Tool (CRT) and synthesised quantitative results for readiness applications at multiple time points. Methods: Eleven databases in OvidSP and EBSCHOhost were searched to retrieve CRT applications. Information from primary studies was extracted independently by two researchers. Results: Forty applications of the CRT met inclusion criteria focussing on 14 different health and social issues. The community of interest was most often defined solely on the basis of its geographical location (52.5%). Most studies used the CRT to plan (85%) and/or evaluate programs (40%). The CRT protocol was modified in 40% of studies. Six applications evaluated readiness at multiple time points, however limited reporting in primary studies precluded any synthesis of results. Applications identified methodological rigour, contextual information and community engagement as strengths, and time and resource costs as limitations. Conclusions: The CRT is well suited for planning and evaluating complex community health interventions given its flexibility to accommodate diverse definitions of community and issues. CRT applications would benefit from improved reporting; reporting recommendations for use of the CRT are outlined.

Assessing change in perceived community leadership readiness in the Obesity Prevention and Lifestyle program

“…The PCLR online tool is responsive to time and resource constraints associated with conventional over-the-phone applications of the CRT. 19 This study unmasks suburb-level heterogeneity in PCLR that exists within communities. Although some communities had homogeneous profiles, suburb-level variation in PCLR scores was observed for most.…”

“…18,[23][24][25][26] Community readiness, and in particular PCLR, can change in 2-3 intervention years particularly when interventions, like OPAL, explicitly target community leaders. Previous research has reported on the full CRT assessment, 19 and although the present study presents data only on the leadership dimension of the CRT, it assesses leadership readiness on a much larger scale than has been previously attempted. In a recent systematic review of CRT applications, only a single study applied the traditional method of CRT assessment to more than 30 communities (Plested et al conducted interviews in 102 communities in 1999 27 ).…”

“…In a recent systematic review of CRT applications, only a single study applied the traditional method of CRT assessment to more than 30 communities (Plested et al conducted interviews in 102 communities in 1999 27 ). 19 Encouragingly, of the 20 OPAL intervention communities, 14 communities had a PCLR score of 5 corresponding to the statement 'Leadership is involved in or actively supportive of planning of efforts (possibly as part of a committee or group that addresses this issue) or is trying to get something started'. This score, when replicated across the other dimensions of the CRT, has previously been identified as associated with improved health outcomes for the community.…”

The FORGE AHEAD clinical readiness consultation tool: a validated tool to assess clinical readiness for chronic disease care mobilization in Canada’s First Nations

“…It has been argued that complex health interventions need to be context-dependent to be most effective [12, 23, 40]. Within the context of Indigenous communities in Canada where the barriers encountered to providing optimal chronic care are numerous, sometimes unique and typically more exacerbated compared to their non-Indigenous counterparts, and resources are scarce [23, 40–42] the wisdom held by healthcare providers working in a community with regards to implementation of an intervention should not be underestimated.…”

“…Given the barriers present in Indigenous communities such as availability and accessibility of primary healthcare services and professionals, appropriate and effective intervention strategies that take into account contextual factors in their planning and evaluation are needed to maximize improvements and increase the likelihood of success and sustainment [12, 13]. Readiness is a measure of the recognition, preparation, and/or action taken when facing an area that requires change or improvement [14] and has been identified as a critical contextual factor to incorporate into public health interventions in Indigenous communities [12, 15]. …”