EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The NLHHP Review Team has continued to work closely with the Evaluation Team in an effort to provide feedback and appropriate direction to the various projects. Details of yearly evaluation activities were previously forwarded to NHRDP in conjunction with 4 annual reports. In the final year of the project, an overall evaluation was completed which primarily examined the issue of sustainability of heart health activities in the province. The most significant findings are highlighted below:

1. Seven of the nine original community projects have been successfully sustained post funding through the efforts of local committees. Coalitions have been established in all Regions to insure the sustainability of the heart health agenda in the province.



2. The provincial coordinating sub-committees on public policy and public education developed a number of tools and supported skills development for volunteers and community health professionals. Evaluation of these tools indicated that they were well received by the target groups for which they were intended and are used extensively in programming activities across the province.



3. The provincial coordinating subcommittee on professional education experienced several setbacks in its efforts to develop multi-disciplinary guidelines for professional practice related to CVD prevention, but in the final year has made substantial progress towards this goal. Dissemination funding would insure the completion of this important project.



4. The quantity and variety of heart health programming has increased across the province since the NLHHP program commenced. This achievement was possible though the linkages between the NLHHP and the existing Community Health system, the development of regional heart health coalitions and the networking activities of the provincial coordinating committee members in their respective agencies. The heart health agenda has been formally adopted by the regional community health boards and the provincial health care association, which represents both the community and institutional sectors in the province.



5. Factors and processes most closely associated with sustainablity of projects have been identified and a preliminary model explaining sustainablity of health promotion programs has been developed. The experience of the NLHHP with the issue of sustainablity led to the collaboration of three provinces on a peer-reviewed NHRDP grant which is studying sustainablity of heart health promotion activities in three provinces in Canada.



6. The community-mobilization approach was supported as appropriate and effective in achieving the goals of the NLHHP.