The IDM in brief

At its heart the IDM is very simple. When asked in workshops what influences decision making, people identify a wide sweep of factors which inevitably fall into the broad categories of values, theories, evidence, and the environment (ranging from the physical to the political). These categories, including practice itself, correspond to the IDM domains and subdomains:

¨      the domain of underpinnings includes the subdomains of values/goals/ethics, theories/beliefs, and evidence; our underpinnings are our “foundations,” which influence us even when we are not consciously aware of how we define or prioritize them

¨      the domain of understanding of the environment includes the subdomains of vision, analysis of health-related issues, and analysis of work/organization-related issues; our environments range from the organizations we work in to the international arena and include a variety of socio-economic and political systems and structures, and psychological and physical conditions

¨      the domain of practice includes the subdomains of responding to health-related issues, responding to work/organization-related issues, and research (including evaluation); practice is composed of processes, activities and strategies

As can be seen in the diagram of the IDM on the next page, the domains and subdomains exist in the context of the broader environment. The domains and subdomains are interactive, that is, each influences and is influenced by the others.

The IDM Framework in brief

The challenge facing practitioners is, first, to identify and define our health promotion underpinnings and understanding of the environment, and, second, to apply these to our practice. This is where the IDM Framework comes in.

The IDM Framework, the practical application of the IDM, is a multi-purpose “change” tool for practitioners and organizations in any situation who want to pursue a best practices approach to health promotion. Using a health promotion filter to ensure that practice is consistent with health promotion underpinnings and understanding of the environment, the IDM Framework can help to:

¨      increase understanding of health promotion, and build capacities and supports

¨      make decisions and policies

¨      increase communication and “team build”

¨      plan, implement, evaluate, and revise programs/activities that are sensitive to local conditions

¨      “make the case” for programs/activities

¨      achieve health promotion goals

The Framework leads us through a process where, from a health promotion perspective (that is, keeping in mind health promotion values and all the other subdomains), we answer the following questions about our activities and programs:

¨      where are we now and where do we want to go?

¨      how do we get to where we want to go?

¨      what did we do, how did we do it, and what were the results?

¨      what do we need to change in order to move forward?

¨      what criteria and guiding principles will help us in our journey?

It does this through a series of steps, which are meant to be used “organically” rather than linearly, that is, according to the demands of our particular situation and how we work best rather than in a set order.

The IDM Framework (© Kahan & Goodstadt, 2001 & 2003)