JMIR Res Protoc. 2026 Jul 22;15:e92825. doi: 10.2196/92825.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular disease remains the leading global cause of mortality, driven by interrelated behavioral, biological, and psychosocial risk factors, despite the availability of effective prevention and treatment strategies. Persistent policy inertia, systemic fragmentation, and adverse social and commercial determinants have limited national responses. Addressing these gaps necessitates place-based, systems-oriented approaches that mobilize local assets, engage multisector stakeholders, and incorporate adaptive evaluation. The Springfield Healthy Hearts initiative exemplifies such an approach by positioning Greater Springfield as a "living laboratory" for coordinated cardiovascular health action through a comprehensive data framework, providing a replicable model for other communities.
OBJECTIVE: This protocol outlines the Springfield Healthy Hearts Data Framework, a multicomponent system for dynamically guiding, implementing, and evaluating coordinated action for heart health.
METHODS: The data framework was developed through a structured co-design process involving community members, expert researchers, health professionals, and representatives from local implementation partners. The framework comprises four integrated components: (1) Project evaluation, applying pragmatic frameworks to assess coordinated action projects; (2) Community evaluation, a repeated cross-sectional evaluation of Springfield residents, workers, and regular visitors to capture individual-level behavioral, biological, and psychosocial cardiovascular disease risk factors, as well as engagement with coordinated action projects; (3) City evaluation, ongoing monitoring of suburb- and city-level indicators across 4 domains (sociodemographic characteristics, built environment, food and commercial environment, and health services); and (4) Data synthesis, to utilize data across all levels to inform a continuous learning system. Project evaluations will use both quantitative and qualitative methods, including realist evaluation where appropriate. Community evaluation will be analyzed using descriptive statistics, mixed effects models, and subgroup analyses, with missing data addressed via multiple imputation. City-level data will be analyzed descriptively and dynamically to detect temporal trends and contextual changes.
RESULTS: Initial funding for the Springfield Healthy Hearts Data Framework was secured in June 2025. Co-design workshops were conducted between November 2025 and February 2026 (n=15 participants), informing the design and prioritization of framework components. Community evaluation data collection is scheduled to commence in September 2026 and conclude in August 2027. Data cleaning and preliminary analyses are anticipated in late 2027, with first results expected to be disseminated in early 2028.
CONCLUSIONS: The Springfield Healthy Hearts Data Framework is a replicable model for other communities aiming to implement city-wide, coordinated approaches to heart health action. Findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications, community reports, interactive dashboards, and policy briefs.
PMID:42488978 | DOI:10.2196/92825