Predicting the Interest of Coalition Members in Utlizing Technical Assistance Support Systems

Abstract

ABSTRACT STONE-WIGGINS, BRENDA PATRICIA. Predicting the Interest of Coalition Members in Utilizing Technical Assistance Support Systems (Under the direction of Roger E. Mitchell.)

Objective: Technical assistance (TA) systems have emerged as an important capacity-building strategy to increase the effectiveness of community prevention coalitions. However, the availability of TA does not necessarily translate into utilization. This study explored whether coalition members’ interest in utilizing TA is predicted by coalition member characteristics (i.e., age, education, gender, commitment, perceived skills, perceived benefits of participation, perceived coalition strength), coalition leader characteristics (i.e., leader’s interest in TA), and coalition functioning (i.e., effectiveness with regard to structure, collaboration and programming).

Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized existing data from coalition members (n=168), coalition leaders (n=22), and ratings of coalition programming from community key informants (n=141), all of which were associated with 22 health-oriented, community prevention coalitions. The dependent variable was the coalition members’ self-identified interest in TA. Principal component analysis confirmed that the 13-item Interest in TA scale represented a single factor.

Analysis: Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM) analyses indicated that 12% of the variance in member interest in TA was due to group level factors. HLM was used to examine the relationships among the predictors and members’ interest in TA.

Results: Members’ perceived skills was significantly related to members’ interest in TA (T=3.48, df=160, p=0.001) as predicted. Commitment was also significantly and positively related to interest in TA (T=2.38, df=160, p=0.019). In addition, members who perceived their coalition as weak were significantly more likely to be interested in TA (T=-2.63, df=160, p=0.010). Coalitions weaker in structure, collaboration and programming (as rated by leaders and key informants) were also more likely to have members interested in TA, although not at a level that reached significance. The small number of cases at the coalition level may have limited statistical power.

Conclusion: Members who perceived their coalition as weak were more interested in TA, suggesting that weaker coalitions may be accessible to TA providers. However, members with lower commitment and skills had less interest in utilizing TA. Suggestions for future research and intervention are discussed.