Using the QATCHEPP quality assessment tool to critically reflect on health promotion practice

ISSUE: Critical health promotion is required to reduce health inequities and is distinguished from selective health promotion by its focus on the unequal distribution of structural and systemic privilege and power. This approach is central to progressing global priorities of health equity and sustainable development. However, much practice remains selectively oriented to a biomedical-behavioural approach. The Quality Assessment Tool for Critical Health Promotion Practice (QATCHEPP) was designed to support practitioners to engage in critical reflection on health promotion initiatives to assess the extent to which they align with a critical approach. PROJECT DESCRIPTION: This project was a case study conducted in 2023. The objective was to use QATCHEPP to critically reflect on a place-based health promotion project. The case study question was to what extent does the health promotion project align with a critical approach? QATCHEPP includes three reflection questions for 10 critical health promotion values and principles, scored as strongly critical (2), somewhat critical (1), minimally or not at all critical (0), or insufficient evidence to be rated (0). Total scores for each value and principle and an overall summary score were calculated. RESULTS: The QATCHEPP summary score was 55% indicating that the project was somewhat aligned with a critical approach, with highest scores for assuming that people are doing their best for their wellbeing, and maximum beneficence, and lowest scores for consideration of non-maleficence and a salutogenic approach. LESSONS: QATCHEPP is an innovative and useful tool for critically reflecting on the extent to which health promotion initiatives align with a critical approach. We recommend that findings from such critical reflection be used by practitioners to identify where initiatives may benefit from re/orientation towards a more critical health promotion approach in any setting or country. KEY MESSAGES: • Practitioners should engage in critical reflection to determine the extent to which health promotion initiatives align with a critical health promotion approach. • QATCHEPP is an innovative and useful quality assessment tool to support critical reflection. Findings can be used to re/orient health promotion practice towards a more critical approach.