The development of a network for community-based obesity prevention: the CO-OPS Collaboration

Abstract

BackgroundCommunity-based interventions are a promising approach and an important component of a comprehensive response to obesity. In this paper we describe the Collaboration of COmmunity-based Obesity Prevention Sites (CO-OPS Collaboration) in Australia as an example of a collaborative network to enhance the quality and quantity of obesity prevention action at the community level. The core aims of the CO-OPS Collaboration are to: identify and analyse the lessons learned from a range of community-based initiatives aimed at tackling obesity, and; to identify the elements that make community-based obesity prevention initiatives successful and share the knowledge gained with other communities.MethodsKey activities of the collaboration to date have included the development of a set of Best Practice Principles and knowledge translation and exchange activities to promote the application (or use) of evidence, evaluation and analysis in practice.ResultsThe establishment of the CO-OPS Collaboration is a significant step toward strengthening action in this area, by bringing together research, practice and policy expertise to promote best practice, high quality evaluation and knowledge translation and exchange. Future development of the network should include facilitation of further evidence generation and translation drawing from process, impact and outcome evaluation of existing community-based interventions.ConclusionsThe lessons presented in this paper may help other networks like CO-OPS as they emerge around the globe. It is important that networks integrate with each other and share the experience of creating these networks.

Integrated knowledge translation: digging deeper, moving forward

“…Networks are gaining momentum as governments and funding agencies provide incentives for their formation; evaluations of their effectiveness are just emerging 19. These collaborative networks focus on a large, often complex, issue, and take a multipronged approach to addressing a health or social problem 19 20. Network activities include researchers and knowledge users working together on such things as generating reviews of the evidence, disseminating research, developing practice guidelines to support implementation of evidence, etc.…”

A snapshot of the scope of obesity prevention practice in Australia

“…Knowledge translation and exchange strategies can be applied in partnership, across diverse organizational settings (Allender et al , 2011; Haby et al , 2012) to better support integrated CBI planning and delivery.…”

Knowledge Dissemination Interventions

“…A total of 8 KDIs were performed in health settings (Amsallem et al, 2007;Colantonio et al, 2008;Dobbins et al, 2009;Gross & Lowe, 2009;Hartling et al, 2010;Kirshbaum, 2008;Russell et al, 2010;Stiell et al, 2010), 5 in community settings (including theater spaces; Allender et al, 2011;Hundt et al, 2011;Redwood et al, 2010;Smith et al, 2011;Stuttaford et al, 2006), 3 in virtual locations, via the Internet (Ginsburg et al, 2007;Grad et al, 2008;Tanna et al, 2011), and 2 in universities or research centers (Kobus et al, 2007;Wilkinson et al, 2009). The location of one intervention was not specified in the article reporting on it (Mason, 2008).…”