Speaker
Description
Author: Ludwig Grillich (Danube University Krems)
Background: Social isolation and loneliness among older adults represent significant public health challenges with impacts comparable to smoking or obesity. Municipal interventions span from universal to indicated approaches, yet lack systematic quality assessment frameworks. This study aimed to develop and apply evidence-informed quality criteria for evaluating community-based interventions targeting social relationships among older adults in Lower Austria's "Healthy Communities" program.
Methods: Following an evidence-informed public health approach and the transdisciplinary model of evidence-based practice, we conducted a systematic search for guidelines and evidence syntheses on social isolation interventions. A recommendation group including practitioners, target group representatives, and funders prioritized criteria through a two-stage Delphi process. We applied these criteria to evaluate 14 municipal projects through written surveys and telephone interviews with project leaders.
Results: We identified 39 criteria and organized them into four domains: project conditions, planning, implementation, and outcomes. The developed quality criteria captured elements across the prevention continuum. Key domains included equity, resource orientation, participatory planning and implementation, addressing health determinants, staff qualification, and sustainability. The criteria integrated universal and targeted approaches by valuing both broad community engagement and specific strategies for high-risk groups. Application to municipal projects revealed that while most excelled at community-wide approaches, they struggled with targeted prevention components, particularly those requiring specialized knowledge, intersectoral collaboration, and sustainability planning.
Discussion: These criteria provide a framework for assessing prevention interventions across the continuum. Our findings highlight the need for capacity building in municipal settings to implement integrated approaches combining universal prevention strengths with indicated prevention precision. The criteria can guide planning for future interventions and promote intersectoral collaboration.
| Conflict of interest | none |
|---|
