Criteria for best practice in health promotion

Abstract

Abstract There are many interventions that take a health-promoting approach. But are they really good and do their implementation lead to results that are also a sustainable improvement for the target group in a setting? Can this improvement be scientifically evaluated and even measured or is it based on a well-intentioned perception only? The criteria for good practice from Germany, which were developed in 2003 by the Advisory Working Group of the nationwide Collaborative Network for Equity in Health of BZgA, aim in particular for professionals in community health promotion to reflect on their work and to support them in further developing and strengthening the quality of their health promotion services. The (twelve) good practice criteria, in practical language and in the form of twelve fact sheets, each contain a definition, implementation stages of the criterion, their explanation (illustrated with examples from practice) as well as further literature. The good practice criteria include conception and target group reference and take into account participation and empowerment, but also sustainability and cost-effectiveness. These criteria also serve as selection criteria for interventions to be included in the German Good Practice Portal which has a particular focus on tackling health inequalities. In a brief presentation these criteria will be presented to the participants of the workshop in order to subsequently discuss and exchange approaches from other countries.