Abstract

A descriptive analysis of community-based health promotion projects conducted by Divisions of General Practice between 1993 and 1994 and in 1996 is provided, and their design, evaluation, impact and appropriateness are considered. A total of 55 community-based health promotion projects were funded between 1993 and 1994. Analysis of the 1993 and 1994 projects revealed that: most project goals and objectives lacked clarity and measurability; almost all projects undertook some form of needs assessment; projects tended not to be targeted; participation rates and reporting varied greatly; and project evaluations were designed to measure process and impact at the individual level, rather than on a system wide level. Fifty comparable community-based health promotion projects were funded in 1996.An analysis of project proposals revealed that they were designed on the whole to be more targeted, intersectoral, collaborative and to use multiple settings and strategies than their 1993 and 1994 counterparts. Projects have increased the visibility and capacity of general practitioners (GPs) to engage in community-based health promotion, and provide evidence that they can do more than individual service provision activities, such as community-based health promotion in a diverse range of settings, and with a broad range of population groups.