A Canadian-wide perspective on the essential conditions for taking a comprehensive school health approach.

Background: The primary purpose of this research was to explore Comprehensive School Health (CSH) stakeholders' perceptions of the essential conditions for taking a CSH approach in other contexts across Canada. The secondary purpose was to examine the need for and development of an evaluative tool or resource to assess the implementation of the essential conditions.

Methods: Data were generated through individual semi-structured interviews (n = 38) and small group interviews (n = 3) with 45 participants across Canada involved in implementing policies or programs which take a CSH approach.

Exploring the process of capacity-building among community-based health promotion workers in Alberta, Canada.

Community capacity-building is a central element to health promotion. While capacity-building features, domains and relationships to program sustainability have been well examined, information on the process of capacity-building as experienced by practitioners is needed. This study examined this process as experienced by coordinators working within a community-based chronic disease prevention project implemented in four communities in Alberta (Canada) from 2005-2010 using a case study approach with a mixed-method design.

"Walkable by Willpower": resident perceptions of neighbourhood environments.

Resident perceptions of neighbourhood walkability, physical activity opportunities, food choice and factors influencing choice of neighbourhood were examined through focus group discussion in higher and lower walkability neighbourhoods. Almost all participants perceived their neighbourhoods as very or reasonably walkable with high food choice. Walking was described as primarily leisure or exercise focused and less frequently as destination or task-oriented.