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Session Title: Challenges of Evaluating Public Health Programs in Non-traditional Settings: The Experiences of Three Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Projects
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Panel Session 204 to be held in Panzacola Section F3 on Thursday, Nov 12, 9:15 AM to 10:45 AM
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Sponsored by the Health Evaluation TIG
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| Chair(s): |
| Thomas Chapel, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tchapel@cdc.gov
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| Abstract:
In these times of limited resources, public health programs often have to rely on non-traditional partners to help them reach target populations. Consequently, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) scientists often find themselves implementing and evaluating programs in settings that do not have public health as a priority. Such evaluations often present unique challenges and barriers that must be addressed in order for an evaluation to occur. The three individuals on this panel will discuss the challenges they faced, and the techniques they used when evaluating public health activities in sites that are not traditional public health venues. One presenter will describe an evaluation of a worksite wellness program; a second presenter will explain how performance measures are collected from correctional facilities and family planning clinics; and the third presenter will discuss the barriers and facilitators to evaluating sexually transmitted disease screening programs in large jails.
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The Value of Using a Program Evaluation Model to Identify Strengths and Weaknesses of a Worksite Wellness Program
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| Joannie Shen, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, joannie.shen@cdc.gov
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Many federal and local health departments have developed worksite wellness-promotion programs. It is unclear whether these programs achieve their goals of improving health for the workforce. Program Step-Up, a pilot worksite wellness-promotion program targeting 3,750 state public health employees, was conducted at one worksite, and the comparison group targeted 1,950 workers stationed at another worksite. The program aimed to improve workforce health status through worksite environmental changes, enhanced health awareness, and increased physical activity participation with components including a farmers' market, physical activity promotion, nutritional education, and environmental modifications. A program evaluation was conducted to evaluate outcomes, determine long term sustainability, and guide future program planning. Findings were identified through collection of primary data from employees (online surveys and interviews) and analyses of program components participation. The evaluation was helpful in identifying areas for interventions. The presentation will discuss the program evaluation conducted, methods use, and lessons learned.
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We Have to Work With Whom Now? Public Health Performance Measures Data From Non-Public Health Settings
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| Sonal Doshi, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sdoshi@cdc.gov
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| Dayne Collins, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, dcollins@cdc.gov
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In 2004, CDC's Division of STD Prevention implemented performance measures in the 65 project areas they fund. Some of the areas of program performance that these measures are used to assess are core STD program activities such as screening coverage, timeliness of treatment, partner notification, and collecting surveillance data. Funded project areas collect this information from many traditional public health partners such as publicly funded health clinics, STD clinics, community based organizations providing services, and private healthcare providers. But there are also a number of performance measures that assess STD services in non-traditional public health settings such as juvenile justice centers, jails, and family planning centers. This presentation will cover the methods used to develop these measures; the challenges associated with working in these venues; collecting data from these venues; and how data has been used by the partners at these venues to impact their program planning and performance.
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Evaluating Sexually Transmitted Disease Screening in Large United States Jails
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| Betty Apt, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, bapt@cdc.gov
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| Sonal Doshi, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sdoshi@cdc.gov
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One strategy to address the high rates of sexually transmitted disease (STD) infections is to screen inmates of jails and treat them before they return to their community, thus preventing the spread of infection to the general population. Two jails, Rikers Island in New York City and the Philadelphia Prison System, have comprehensive screening programs; and some jails, such as Maricopa County Jail in Phoenix and East Baton Rouge Parish Prison, screen for a single STD. This presentation will describe methods the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention used to conduct an evaluation of STD screening in jails where the main priority is security, not health. Twelve sites were visited, and structured interviews were conducted with staff from health departments, jail security, and jail health care. The evaluation identified facilitators and barriers to STD screening that will be used to help expand STD screening to other correctional facilities.
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