Tingbjerg Changing Diabetes: Dynamic intersectoral collaboration in community health promotion

Abstract

Abstract Background Intersectoral collaborative action is a beneficial and cost-effective strategy in health promotion and multilevel, comprehensive interventions are increasingly used to prevent chronic diseases. Yet, more knowledge is needed on processes of sustainable intersectoral partnership building. Tingbjerg Changing Diabetes (TCD) is a long-term (2014-2032) initiative to promote health and prevent type 2 diabetes in the socially disadvantaged neighbourhood Tingbjerg, Copenhagen, Denmark. TCD applies the Supersetting approach to mobilise community resources and to attain synergistic effects through coordinated engagement of multiple stakeholders in multiple settings in local community. The Supersetting approach constitute five core principles: integration, participation, empowerment, context-sensitivity, knowledge. Activities draw on Community Action Research. Methods The paper analyses partnership building processes in TCD. Data includes contextual analyses, log data, notes from partner meetings/workshops, partner interviews and activity process evaluations. Partners include educational, private and public institutions (incl. Copenhagen Municipality), a local political committee, social housing associations and research institutions. Results Drivers of sustainability of TCD related partnerships included trusting, dynamic and flexible relations established at multiple levels of involvement. Local resource identification and co-creation processes ensured feasibility of activities by involving most relevant partners. The evolvement of interrelated project activities based on shared goals, structures and principles fostered cohesion of TCD's intersectoral partner collaboration. Conclusions The intersectoral partner collaboration in TCD was established, maintained and expanded through iterative processes of activity and project development. Thus, TCD has been effective in mobilizing and integrating multiple intersectoral partners in community health promotion. Key messages The sustainability of TCD intersectoral partner engagement and collaboration is driven by dynamic relations at multiple levels ensuring consistent, yet flexible engagement. The iterative project development building on community interests and shared goals, structures and principles maintain the dynamic partnerships of TCD.