Tools for municipal health promotion planning—A Group Delphi study to facilitate decision-making

Abstract Health promotion at the local level requires coordinated action for the development of strategies to promote health and well-being. For structuring and implementing such processes, planning tools can help local coordinators. However, before starting the planning process, coordinators must navigate a broad range of available tools and identify those that best fit their local needs and conditions. Despite the availability of various planning tools for municipal health promotion, there is limited research on what kind of information can help health professionals choose the most suitable tool. To address this gap, the study investigates which specific attributes of planning tools are considered most relevant by municipal health promotion practitioners for informed decision-making. The study was conducted using the Group Delphi method, which involved experts in a participatory process to reach consensus on pre-defined statements. A total of 17 experts from intersectoral fields including municipalities, federal state and national institutions as well as academia took part. Quantitative and qualitative analysis of the Delphi results led to the identification of eleven categories. These findings provide a practical framework for describing planning tools in a way that meets the information needs of practitioners. By improving clarity and accessibility of tool descriptions, the results can support more targeted tool selection, enhance the efficiency of planning processes and ultimately contribute to a more effective municipal health promotion.