Examining the creation of synergy in community coalitions for smoke-free environments in Armenia and Georgia

Authors

Michelle C. Kegler, Department of Behavioral, Social and Health Education Sciences, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30033, USA.
Varduhi Hayrumyan, Turpanjian College of Health Sciences, American University of Armenia, 40 Marshal Baghramyan Ave., 0019 Yerevan, Armenia.
Ana Dekanosidze, Department of Noncommunicable Diseases, Georgia National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, 99 Kakheti Highway, Tbilisi, Georgia.
Lilit Grigoryan, National Institute of Health named after academician S. Avdalbekyan, Ministry of Health, Komitasi Ave 49/4 Building, 0051 Yerevan, Armenia.
Arevik Torosyan, National Institute of Health named after academician S. Avdalbekyan, Ministry of Health, Komitasi Ave 49/4 Building, 0051 Yerevan, Armenia.
Zhanna Sargsyan, Turpanjian College of Health Sciences, American University of Armenia, 40 Marshal Baghramyan Ave., 0019 Yerevan, Armenia.
Lela Sturua, Department of Noncommunicable Diseases, Georgia National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, 99 Kakheti Highway, Tbilisi, Georgia.
Alexander Bazarchyan, National Institute of Health named after academician S. Avdalbekyan, Ministry of Health, Komitasi Ave 49/4 Building, 0051 Yerevan, Armenia.
Carla J. Berg, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington Cancer Center, George Washington University, 800 22nd Street NW, Washington, DC 20052, USA.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

6-1-2024

Journal

Health promotion international

Volume

39

Issue

3

DOI

10.1093/heapro/daae058

Keywords

coalitions; community partnerships; mixed methods; synergy; theory; tobacco

Abstract

Community coalitions depend on their members to synergistically pool diverse resources, including knowledge and expertise, community connections and varied perspectives, to identify and implement strategies and make progress toward community health improvement. Several coalition theories suggest synergy is the key mechanism driving coalition effectiveness. The Community Coalition Action Theory (CCAT) asserts that synergy depends on how well coalitions engage their members and leverage their resources, which is influenced by coalition processes, member participation and satisfaction and benefits outweighing costs. The current study used mixed methods, including coalition member surveys (n = 83) and semi-structured interviews with leaders and members (n = 42), to examine the process of creating collaborative synergy in 14 community coalitions for smoke-free environments in Armenia and Georgia. Members, typically seven per coalition representing education, public health, health care and municipal administration sectors, spent an average of 16 hr/month on coalition-related work. Common benefits included making the community a better place to live and learning more about tobacco control. The greatest cost was attending meetings or events at inconvenient times. Members contributed various resources, including their connections and influence, skills and expertise and access to population groups and settings. Strong coalition processes, greater benefits and fewer costs of participation and satisfaction were correlated with leveraging of member resources, which in turn, was highly correlated with collaborative synergy. Consistent with CCAT, effective coalition processes created a positive climate where membership benefits outweighed costs, and members contributed their resources in a way that created collaborative synergy.

APA Citation

Kegler, Michelle C.; Hayrumyan, Varduhi; Dekanosidze, Ana; Grigoryan, Lilit; Torosyan, Arevik; Sargsyan, Zhanna; Sturua, Lela; Bazarchyan, Alexander; and Berg, Carla J., "Examining the creation of synergy in community coalitions for smoke-free environments in Armenia and Georgia" (2024). GW Authored Works. Paper 5170.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/5170

Department

Prevention and Community Health