204876 Community themes and strengths assessment: Evaluating quality of life using online survey methods

Wednesday, November 11, 2009: 9:15 AM

Sonja Armbruster, MAC , Health Protection and Promotion, Sedgwick County Health Department, Wichita, KS
Erin Janke , Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Kansas School of Medicine - Wichita, Wichita, KS
Background

MAPP (Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships) is a strategic approach to community health improvement. Community Themes and Strengths Assessment (CTSA) is one of four MAPP assessments which asks: How is quality of life perceived in our community?

Methods

CTSA survey questions were drafted based on the MAPP Handbook. Drafted survey questions were edited through discussion with community partners. A commercial online survey tool was utilized to create the survey which was then distributed via numerous email distribution lists. A paper version of the survey was created in both English and Spanish to reach additional audiences.

Results

2,491 surveys were completed; among those, 358 were paper surveys. CTSA survey participant demographics were very similar to age, race/ethnicity, age and income demographics for all Sedgwick County Kansas residents.

Across the fifteen demographic sub-categories studied, all selected "low crime" first and “good jobs/healthy economy” second as “most important factors for a healthy community”. Regarding “most important health problems,” the most frequently selected answer was Mental Health. The top five health problems identified by Black respondents were not the same as Whites. All demographic subgroups had consensus about the top three risky behaviors: “drug abuse, alcohol abuse, and being overweight”.

Conclusions

CTSA successfully engaged the community to consider quality of life; the process continues as the results are shared. Local public health officials will use these results to set priorities, strengthening community partnerships, and reflect on the role of the public health department to assure a healthy community.

Learning Objectives:
Design inexpensive community engagement surveys utilizing MAPP tools and web-based survey tools Describe advantages of utilizing a web-based survey as a community engagement strategy

Keywords: Survey, Community Health Assessment

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I administered and anaylized the survey described in the abstract. I've been an educator at various levels since 1994. I am currently adjunct graduate school faculty for the University of Kansas School of Medicine MPH program. I lead the MAPP effort for the Sedgwick County Health Department in Wichita,KS. While my master's degree is in communications, I have worked in public health since 2001. I am currently the president of my state affiliate, the Kansas Public Health Association.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.