10.I. Skills building seminar: Multiple outcome evaluations in health promotion: developing methodological recommendations

Abstract Evaluating health promotion interventions often involves assessing multiple and multidimensional (effectiveness, process, economic) outcomes, which presents key methodological challenges. These include an increased risk of type I errors, complex sample size calculations, and difficulties interpreting conflicting results. Despite these challenges, there is no formal guidance for selecting, analysing, and interpreting multiple and multidimensional outcomes to determine intervention success. This knowledge-building workshop convenes experts in public health and research methodology to collaboratively refine methodological recommendations for multiple outcome evaluations in health promotion interventions. Through structured discussion and consensus-building activities, participants will critically examine preliminary proposals and co-produce refined guidance to support researchers, funders, and decision-makers. The workshop will be delivered in two parts: Part 1: Presentation of preliminary findings and methodological proposals (15 minutes). Findings from a systematic review and expert consultations on multiple outcome evaluations for health promotion interventions will be presented to participants. Five preliminary proposals will be introduced: (1) developing core outcome sets tailored to health promotion interventions, (2) selecting multidimensional outcomes through multidisciplinary steering committees, (3) applying multiple criteria decision analysis and consensus-driven methods for transparent outcome combination, (4) strengthening methodological reporting throughout intervention development and evaluation, and (5) increasing complex intervention experts’ involvement in ethics, funding, and evaluation committees to strengthen evidence recognition. Part 2: Interactive group discussion and co-refinement of methodological recommendations (45 minutes). Participants will be guided through structured discussions of each proposal, assessing their relevance and feasibility within real-world research contexts. Participants will then collaboratively refine proposals into recommendations, drawing on their expertise and experiences. The workshop will aim to reach a collective validation of the final set of methodological recommendations. This workshop will support the development of evidence-informed, consensus-based methodological guidance for multiple outcome evaluations in health promotion. It will foster opportunities for future collaborations around methodological research and lay the foundation for an enduring network of researchers, institutions, and practitioners dedicated to advancing high-quality evidence generation and evidence-based decision-making in health promotion. Key messages • Participants will refine and co-develop evidence-based methodological recommendations to guide multiple and multidimensional outcome evaluations in health promotion interventions. • The workshop will build knowledge and capacity in transparent and rigorous evaluation methods, supporting high-quality evidence generation and evidence-based decision-making for health.