Abstract
Purpose. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perspectives and experiences of individual leaders who have facilitated and implemented health promotion programs to determine the challenges they faced, barriers they encountered, and strategies they implemented to achieve organizational stability. The study included 2 research questions: (a) What are the challenges and barriers of the implementation of the health promotion programs; and (b) What strategies can be utilized to implement and facilitate effective health promotion programs? Methodology. Subjects in the study included 10 participant/leaders of organizations with a recognized diabetes education program that has achieved organizational stability. Data were collected from each participant utilizing personal, face-to-face interviews consisting of a set of standard, structured, predeveloped, open-ended questions. Findings and Conclusions. Examination and thematic analysis of qualitative data resulted in 24 significant findings, and 7 major conclusions: (a) challenges and barriers are centered on administrative and bureaucratic procedures such as identifying and contacting potential clients, transporting them to established facilities, managing ineffective data systems, and obtaining compensation for services rendered; (b) internal barriers are focused on the need for members to adjust to external barriers, and to develop standard, efficient, but adaptable protocols; (c) barriers are best overcome by developing creative, diligent, culturally sensitive, technically competent, and administratively flexible teams; (d) barriers that exist cannot be overcome without tailoring services to patient needs; (e) marketing must remain an essential administrative function; (f) diabetes education programs can learn to succeed by observing best practices of similar programs; and (g) creative and skilled team members must work in conjunction with effective data and billing systems to support internal administrative needs. Recommendations. This study made 3 recommendations: (a) replicate the same study with a larger nationwide sample of participants to reach more generalized conclusions; (b) survey school leaders to determine the efficacy of existing K-12 health promotion programs and education; and (c) interview children and families from minority populations to understand barriers from their perspective.