Organizational Structure
Population-based intervention programs are characterized by
the shared ownership of the problem and its solution by experts
as well as by community members [13]. In this study, we
propose a shared decision-making and responsibility for the
implementation of strategies. The building of a community
coalition for fall prevention is essential at the beginning. In
several meetings, the concept of the study is explained and the
potential partnerships and contributions from local agencies,
organizations, and services are explored. The community
coalition is led by a steering committee comprising of high rank
representatives of the city’s council, in particular from the senior
citizens' office and department of sports, representatives of the
geriatric department of the district hospital, the local medical
council, the association of sports clubs, the local health
department, the building society, the council of senior citizens,
the ambulatory care services, and the welfare organizations.
The steering committee is built in order to prioritize possible
strategies, name appropriate participants of focus groups and
implementation teams, and to discuss and solve problems of
implementation.
In a second step, focus groups are constituted consisting of local
experts, both professionals and volunteers. They discuss and
develop portfolios of possible strategies. In dialogue, the steering
committee and the researchers rate the proposed strategies. For
implementation, teams of local partners are set up with
professionals as well as volunteers (so called implementation
teams).
The role of the research team is to provide good-practice
examples and information for the professionals and volunteers
in the field, to set up organizational structures, to coordinate
implementation strategies, and to evaluate the processes and
outcomes.
Web-Based Platform of Exercise Classes Example
To illustrate the approach, an example of an already developed
and implemented strategy is given, a Web-based platform of
exercise classes.
An early conclusion of focus group meetings was the need for
creating a directory of existing exercise classes for older people.
After a positive vote by the steering committee, an
implementation team was set up under the leadership of a
researcher. It was decided by the implementation team not only
to address older people, but also their caregivers, families,
therapists, or exercise instructors with the intention for them to
serve as mediators. The implementation team discussed the
information need of older people with regards to usability in
cooperation with therapists, physicians, and caregivers. The
involved stakeholders and associations were the department of
sports, association of sports clubs, community college, German
Red Cross, senior citizens' office, and the local hiking club. A
Web-based solution was chosen over a print version by the
team. The pros for the website were that it was modifiable and
updateable (eg, adding further information, categories, or new