Browsing by Author "Savaiano, Dennis"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    4034 Can Connections IN Health become a research-based model to improve health outcomes through community health coalitions?
    (Cambridge University Press, 2020-07-29) Darbishire, Lily; Wiehe, Sarah; Savaiano, Dennis; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Connections IN Health’s goal is to coordinate, integrate, and enrich health coalition work through extended connections among community and academic stakeholders within and across coalitions and geographies within Indiana. We aim to evaluate stakeholder connections to assess coalition effectiveness and the quality of partnership networks. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: We will collect data longitudinally to evaluate Connections IN Health using a unique triangulation of effectiveness surveys, social network analysis, and health data. Cross-sectional functioning and social network analysis surveys were distributed to coalition members before the transition to Connections IN Health engagement (baseline) and will be distributed again each year thereafter to identify changes in coalition perceived effectiveness and changes in the structure/nature of partnership networks after implementation of the partnership. We plan to utilize publicly available health data to measure proximal changes in health outcomes at the neighborhood level and use Pearson’s correlations to check for associations between perceived coalition effectiveness and health outcomes. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: We found low baseline scores in perceived effectiveness, especially in the areas of leadership, operational understanding, and satisfaction, from the coalition members. From our social network analysis, we found relatively low cohesion scores (measured as network density) among each of the coalition networks, and even lower scores for collaboration among coalition members. We expect to see positive increases in perceived coalition effectiveness, as well as an increase in the density and level of collaboration among coalition networks as Connections IN Health develops. Finally, we expect to see positive changes in proximal health outcomes associated with our measures of coalition effectiveness. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: The results of our project will be distributed back to the coalition leaders and members in order to sustain and improve the coalitions. The visualization of the coalition member’s network can be used to demonstrate opportunities for enhanced partnerships and collaboration.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    4405 Chronic Disease in Indiana – Using a Community Health Matrix to Determine Health Factors for Indiana Counties
    (Cambridge University Press, 2020-07-29) Wiehe, Sarah; Zych, Aaron; Hinshaw, Karen; Alley, Ann; Claxton, Gina; Savaiano, Dennis; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    OBJECTIVES/GOALS: The goal of this project was to inform four chronic disease initiatives, working together on the team Connections IN Health, and counties in Indiana on certain areas of need to assist them in collaborative planning. The chronic diseases focused on include diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, asthma, lung cancer and obesity. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Chronic disease health outcomes and social determinants of health indicators were identified in all 92 Indiana counties. Counties were compared by composite z scores in a matrix to determine the 23 counties with the poorest health statistics for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, stroke, asthma, lung cancer, obesity and life expectancy. Qualitative data were used to identify local health coalitions that have the capacity and desire to work with Connections IN Health to improve these health outcomes. With input from partners, the counties were narrowed to 10 that were identified as those with the most need in the specific areas of chronic disease that the initiatives focus on. The team will begin listening sessions with two of these counties to identify strategic partnerships, funding sources, and evidence-based programs to address community-identified health priorities. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: The 23 counties with the poorest health outcomes related to chronic disease and factors were Blackford, Clark, Clay, Fayette, Fulton, Grant, Greene, Howard, Jay, Jennings, Knox, Lake, LaPorte, Madison, Marion, Pike, Scott, Starke, Sullivan, Vanderburgh, Vermillion, Vigo, and Washington. There was significant overlap in low z score rankings for individual health and social determinants of health measures among these 23 counties. The following 10 counties were selected for focus in the next five years based on partner input: Blackford, Clay, Grant, Jennings, Lake, Madison, Marion, Starke, Vermillion, and Washington. The Connections IN Health team has initiated listening sessions in Grant and Vermillion Counties (with data for presentation at the ACTS meeting). DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: This mixed methods approach using existing data and partner input on county capacity/readiness directed Connections IN Health to counties with the most need for coalition efforts. Engagement within each county will inform next steps (e.g., capacity building, partnership development, applications for funding, implementation of evidence-based programs) and specific health focus area(s).
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    A mixed-methods evaluation to improve sustainability of community health coalition partnerships, activities, and impact on county-level health
    (Cambridge University Press, 2018-06) Mansfield, Jennifer; Vandergraff, Donna; Lynch, Krystal; Miller, Douglas; Savaiano, Dennis; Medicine, School of Medicine
    OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: Community health coalitions (CHC) aim to improve local cultures of health, health behaviors, and health outcomes. However, challenges sustaining partnerships and activities limit CHC impact. Traditional CHC evaluations survey members about perceived effectiveness, failing to capture underlying network structures and community health outcomes. Thus, we applied a mixed-methods evaluation in eight rural Indiana CHC, triangulating social network analysis [(SNA), conducted in 2017], functioning effectiveness [Coalition Self-Assessment Survey (CSAS), also 2017], and latest county health statistics (2015–2016) to assess existing CHC building efforts, inform best practices, and facilitate the adoption of evidence-based programming. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Across the eight rural Indiana CHC, relationships between the three evaluation components were analyzed using Pearson’s correlations. We are now collaborating with Purdue’s Nutrition Education Program Community Wellness Coordinators to scale up evaluation efforts throughout Indiana. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: CHC effectiveness was positively correlated with the average number of connections CHC members held in the network (mean indegree) and negatively correlated with the presence of a network broker (eigenvector centrality). However, effective leadership was positively correlated with opioid deaths and treatment, food insecurity, smoking during pregnancy, lack of healthcare coverage, and fair/ poor health status, and negatively correlated with prenatal care. Effective operating norms was positively correlated with smoking during pregnancy and preterm births, and negatively correlated with prenatal care. Effective action outcomes was positively correlated with opioid deaths and treatments, smoking during pregnancy, preterm births, and fair/ poor health status, and negatively correlated with respondents reporting they had no personal doctor. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: Interestingly, CHC effectiveness was positively correlated with poor county health outcomes related to infant well-being. Thus, CHC may develop in counties with a high unmet need for effective pregnancy and infant services. Alternatively, the prevalent CHC focus on obesity prevention may eclipse programmatic efforts to improve infant well-being. Longitudinal evaluations and scaling up evaluation efforts across Indiana are being pursued to clarify trajectories and inform best practices, which in turn should provide recommendations for network structures to improve CHC effectiveness and county health.