Development and evaluation of a training programme on asset-based community development aimed at general practice trainees: protocol for a mixed-method multilevel and multicentric action research study

INTRODUCTION: Asset-based community development (ABCD) is a strategy aimed at strengthening communities of interest through the identification and enhancement of those protective resources (also called ‘health assets’) that contribute to improve population health. Although primary care is specially well placed to contribute to ABCD by facilitating patients’ access to community health assets, the implementation of ABCD approaches is limited, in part due to training deficiencies amongst general practitioners. In this study, we will develop a training programme on ABCD aimed at general practice trainees and evaluate its implementation and scale-up in Andalusia, Spain. We will also investigate whether the programme may contribute to strengthen the community orientation of the primary care practices involved in the study. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: We will undertake a mixed methods, multilevel and multicentric action research study drawing on theoretical frameworks relevant to learning (pedagogy) and community health promotion. The intervention will be implemented and evaluated in eight different study areas over 48 months. It will comprise a classroom-based session and a practical exercise, which will involve general practice trainees producing a map of community health assets relevant to common health conditions. In each study area, we will set up a stakeholder group to guide our study. We will run the intervention sequentially across the eight study areas, and modify and refine it iteratively by incorporating the findings from the evaluation. We will employ qualitative (interviews and focus groups with general practice trainees, primary care workers, members of the teaching units and policymakers) and quantitative methods (self-administered questionnaires with an approximate sample of 157 general practice trainees and 502 primary care workers). ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethics approval from the Andalusian Regional Health Council has been granted (6/2020). It is envisaged that this research will provide relevant, evidence-based guidance on how best to incorporate learning on ABCD into the general practice training curriculum. Findings will be disseminated in an ongoing manner and will target the following audiences: (1) general practice trainees, primary care workers and members of the teaching units, (2) policymakers and strategic decision makers and (3) the academic community.