Capacity building in the neighborhood-an instrument for evaluation and quality development in community health promotion

Background As part of a long-term prevention program for children and their parents in the Hamburg Lenzsiedlung, a new measuring instrument for Germany, "Capacity Building in the Neighborhood" (KEQ), was developed, applied several times, and suggestions from practice were improved in two steps. The aim of the article is to trace this process and to discuss the quality of the instrument. Methods The instrument was used at five points in time (t1: 2006, t2: 2008, t3: 2011 in its long form, t4: 2015, t5: 2017 in its short form) with each around 40 to 60 stakeholders from the health, education and social sectors in the Lenzsiedlung. In addition, alternative evaluation approaches (including quantitative inventory of health-promoting activities, expert interviews, expert audit) were carried out. Results The original instrument (KEQ-LF51) was further developed through shortening (step 1) and simplifying (step 2) into a practical questionnaire (KEQ-SF 30), which is available for use free of charge. The comparison with results from two conceptually independent evaluation approaches (documentation of health promotion activities, expert interviews) showed broad consistency in the assessment of health promotion activities in the Lenzsiedlung. Discussion We discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the instrument and place it in the range of tried and tested instruments for evaluation and quality development. Conclusion Despite initial "stumbling blocks", KEQ can be classified as a time-saving and cost-effective instrument that allows repeated development analyses and the management of community health promotion based on this with relatively little complexity.