| Session Title: Evaluating Development Programs: A Health Impact Assessment Approach |
| Demonstration Session 663 to be held in the Granite Room Section B on Friday, Nov 7, 3:25 PM to 4:10 PM |
| Sponsored by the Health Evaluation TIG |
| Presenter(s): |
| James Edwin, University of Alaska, afjae1@uaa.alaska.edu |
| Abstract: Health impact assessment (HIA) may be conducted at various stages in the development of an identified project, program or policy: Prospective HIA is carried out in the developmental stage when findings and recommendations can influence decision making. Concurrent HIA is carried out when the identified proposal is being implemented. Retrospective HIA is carried out after the proposal has been implemented. Given a proposed policy or project, HIA could be conducted in these steps: Screening Scoping Appraisal Reporting Evaluation. Prospective HIA is comparable to a situational analysis and needs assessment. Concurrent HIA is comparable to formative evaluation. Retrospective HIA is comparable to summative evaluation The strength of HIA is the ability to assess scientific evidence to influence policy making decisions while assessing positive and negative health impacts and possible inequalities in the population. One main weakness is delineating the causal pathway of the determinants of health. |