open access publication

Article, 2022

The workings of an action learning program for building mental health promotion capacity – A realist evaluation

Evaluation and Program Planning, ISSN 1873-7870, 0149-7189, Volume 92, Page 102080, 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2022.102080

Contributors

Hinrichsen, Carsten 0000-0003-1993-9491 (Corresponding author) [1] Nelausen, Malene Kubstrup [1] Nielsen, Line 0000-0002-4127-4361 [1] [2] Santini, Ziggi Ivan 0000-0002-7318-3181 [1] Meilstrup, Charlotte Riebeling 0000-0001-5705-1288 [2] Rod, Morten Hulvej 0000-0003-0178-5885 [3] Koushede, Vibeke Jenny 0000-0002-7302-1334 [2] Lauridsen, Sigurd Mørk Rønbøl [1]

Affiliations

  1. [1] University of Southern Denmark
    2. [NORA names: SDU University of Southern Denmark; University; Denmark; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD];
  2. [2] University of Copenhagen
    3. [NORA names: KU University of Copenhagen; University; Denmark; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD];
  3. [3] Steno Diabetes Center
    4. [NORA names: Steno Diabetes Centers; Hospital; Denmark; Europe, EU; Nordic; OECD]

Abstract

Action learning is a promising approach for building mental health promotion (MHP) capacity. The aim of this study is to explore how action learning processes can strengthen MHP capacity within and across organizations in a community setting. We applied an embedded case study design and a realist evaluation framework to explore key combinations of mechanisms and contextual factors that generated the emergent MHP capacity outcomes of an action learning program, i.e. context-mechanism-outcome-configurations (CMO-configurations). Data consisted of 18 semi-structured face-to-face interviews, 10 telephone interviews, two group interviews, observations, and documents. Interviewees (n = 21) were participants and management employees. Our analytical provision of CMO-configurations provides insights into how contextual factors, such as participant motivation, organizational support, and existing task descriptions, in combination with certain program mechanisms, such as legitimization of specific agendas, learning-by-doing, and collaborations across organizational boundaries, explain the identified outcomes. Outcomes ranged across implementation of MHP initiatives, personal development among participants, and relational and collaborative development. Taken together, our results strengthen the notion that mechanisms of action learning hold the potential to build MHP capacity on an individual, organizational, and community level. This study, also, illustrates that realist evaluation offers a relevant methodology for investigating the underlying workings of capacity building programs.

Keywords

CMO configurations, action, action learning, action learning process, action learning program, agenda, analytical provision, boundaries, building programs, capacity, capacity building programs, capacity outcomes, case study design, collaboration, collaborative development, combination, combination of mechanisms, community, community level, community settings, contextual, contextual factors, data, description, design, development, documents, embedded case study design, employees, evaluation, evaluation framework, face-to-face interviews, factors, framework, group, group interviews, health promotion, health promotion capacity, i., identified outcomes, implementation, individuals, initiation, interviewees, interviews, learning, learning process, learning program, learning-by-doing, legitimation, levels, management, management employees, mechanism, mental health promotion, methodology, motivation, observations, organization, organizational boundaries, organizational support, outcomes, participants, participation motivation, personal development, potential, process, program, programming mechanism, promoter, promotion capacity, realist, realist evaluation, relevant methodologies, semi-structured face-to-face interviews, sets, study, study design, support, task, task description, telephone, telephone interviews

Funders

  • Nordea-fonden

Data Provider: Digital Science

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