scholarly journals Eliciting and reconstructing programme theory: An exercise in translating theory into practice

Evaluation ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 469-476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Penelope Siebert ◽  
Puja Myles
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Formative Evaluation ◽  
Group Formation ◽  
Complex Interventions ◽  
Evaluation Process ◽  
Programme Theory ◽  
Multiple Partners ◽  
Public Health Initiative ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Sphere Of Influence

The importance of evaluation to demonstrate the effectiveness of policies, programmes and interventions is widely recognised. Evaluation in the context of public health and healthcare is viewed as a complicated exercise, particularly when dealing with complex interventions involving multiple partners, multiple components and multiple outcomes. Eliciting the programme theory is an important starting point of an evaluation process to enable the link between theory and action to be articulated. This article gives a pragmatic account of the practicalities of working with stakeholders as they embark on a formative evaluation of a complex public health initiative, using a using a theory-based approach. Drawing on the principles of Leeuw’s strategic assessment, we planned a workshop to reflect the four stages of this approach–group formation, assumption surfacing, dialectical debate and synthesis. Stakeholders took part in four activities–Free Listing, Sphere of Influence, Beattie’s Theoretical Framework and Programme Concept Mapping. We found that our elicitation approach was particularly suited to reconstructing the programme theory in a non-threatening and playful environment, bringing about an alignment of programme theories by consensus and reducing anxiety.

scholarly journals What methods and challenges for taking account of context when transferring complex interventions?

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
S Villadsen ◽  
S Dias
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Reproductive Health ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Complex Interventions ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Public Health Interventions ◽  
Reproductive Health Care

Abstract For complex public health interventions to be effective their implementation needs to adapt to the situation of those implementing and those receiving the intervention. While context matter for intervention implementation and effect, we still insist on learning from cross-country comparison of implementation. Next methodological challenges include how to increase learning from implementation of complex public health interventions from various context. The interventions presented in this workshop all aims to improve quality of reproductive health care for immigrants, however with different focus: contraceptive care in Sweden, group based antenatal care in France, and management of pregnancy complications in Denmark. What does these interventions have in common and are there cross cutting themes that help us to identify the larger challenges of reproductive health care for immigrant women in Europe? Issues shared across the interventions relate to improved interactional dynamics between women and the health care system, and theory around a woman-centered approach and cultural competence of health care providers and systems might enlighten shared learnings across the different interventions and context. Could the mechanisms of change be understood using theoretical underpinnings that allow us to better generalize the finding across context? What adaption would for example be needed, if the Swedish contraceptive intervention should work in a different European setting? Should we distinguish between adaption of function and form, where the latter might be less important for intervention fidelity? These issues will shortly be introduced during this presentation using insights from the three intervention presentations and thereafter we will open up for discussion with the audience.

scholarly journals The use of Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) to address causality in complex systems: a systematic review of research on public health interventions

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Hanckel ◽  
Mark Petticrew ◽  
James Thomas ◽  
Judith Green
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Complex Systems ◽  
Qualitative Comparative Analysis ◽  
Complex Interventions ◽  
Health Interventions ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Public Health Interventions ◽  
Minimum Criteria

Abstract Background Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) is a method for identifying the configurations of conditions that lead to specific outcomes. Given its potential for providing evidence of causality in complex systems, QCA is increasingly used in evaluative research to examine the uptake or impacts of public health interventions. We map this emerging field, assessing the strengths and weaknesses of QCA approaches identified in published studies, and identify implications for future research and reporting. Methods PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science were systematically searched for peer-reviewed studies published in English up to December 2019 that had used QCA methods to identify the conditions associated with the uptake and/or effectiveness of interventions for public health. Data relating to the interventions studied (settings/level of intervention/populations), methods (type of QCA, case level, source of data, other methods used) and reported strengths and weaknesses of QCA were extracted and synthesised narratively. Results The search identified 1384 papers, of which 27 (describing 26 studies) met the inclusion criteria. Interventions evaluated ranged across: nutrition/obesity (n = 8); physical activity (n = 4); health inequalities (n = 3); mental health (n = 2); community engagement (n = 3); chronic condition management (n = 3); vaccine adoption or implementation (n = 2); programme implementation (n = 3); breastfeeding (n = 2), and general population health (n = 1). The majority of studies (n = 24) were of interventions solely or predominantly in high income countries. Key strengths reported were that QCA provides a method for addressing causal complexity; and that it provides a systematic approach for understanding the mechanisms at work in implementation across contexts. Weaknesses reported related to data availability limitations, especially on ineffective interventions. The majority of papers demonstrated good knowledge of cases, and justification of case selection, but other criteria of methodological quality were less comprehensively met. Conclusion QCA is a promising approach for addressing the role of context in complex interventions, and for identifying causal configurations of conditions that predict implementation and/or outcomes when there is sufficiently detailed understanding of a series of comparable cases. As the use of QCA in evaluative health research increases, there may be a need to develop advice for public health researchers and journals on minimum criteria for quality and reporting.

scholarly journals Microcredit as a public health initiative? Exploring mechanisms and pathways to health and wellbeing

2021 ◽  
Vol 270 ◽  
pp. 113633
Author(s):  
Fatma Ibrahim ◽  
Neil McHugh ◽  
Olga Biosca ◽  
Rachel Baker ◽  
Tim Laxton ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Health Initiative ◽  
Public Health Initiative

Opportunities and Challenges for Practical Training in Public Health: Insights from Practicum Coordinators in Ontario

2018 ◽  
Vol 79 (4) ◽  
pp. 176-180 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Wegener ◽  
Marilyne Petitclerc
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Food Systems ◽  
Knowledge Exchange ◽  
Practical Training ◽  
Learning Approaches ◽  
Sustainable Food Systems ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
Narrow View ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Training Opportunities

Dietetic educators and practicum coordinators (PC) play critical roles in preparing students for practice. Dietitians have made significant progress in the development of educational curricula, competencies, and other resources to support knowledge and skill attainment in public health. There are identified gaps in the literature concerning practical training in sustainable food systems and public health, creating barriers in knowledge exchange and improvements in practicum programs in Canada. This paper discusses the potential opportunities and challenges associated with the number of placements for practical training in public health based on interviews with PCs in Ontario. The findings are limited to the perspectives of 7 PCs with experience in practical training and are a starting point for ongoing evaluation. Identified opportunities within traditional and “emerging settings” for practical training in public health included: the uniqueness of the experience, the potential for students to learn outside their comfort zones, and greater possibilities for dietitians in new roles and settings. Challenges included the need for significant PC engagement with nondietetic preceptors and a narrow view of dietetic practice among some dietitians. Interprofessional teams, emerging settings, and flexible learning approaches may create and support practical training opportunities in food systems and public health going forward.

A Systems Approach to the Design and Development of Interactive Videodisc Training

1989 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 255-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeffrey A. Cantor
Keyword(s):  
Formative Evaluation ◽  
Systems Approach ◽  
System Development ◽  
Process Analysis ◽  
Evaluation Process ◽  
Interactive Videodisc ◽  
Systematic Design ◽  
Design And Development ◽  
Test And Evaluation ◽  
Instructional Product

This article describes a four-phased process used by the U.S. Navy for the systematic design and development of interactive videodisc (IVD) courseware (ICW). Phase One of the process, Analysis and Alternatives, describes the methodology for analyzing job/task data for the purpose of verifying the appropriateness of interactive videodisc as the medium of instructional choice, and for analyzing the proposed problem, and scoping out the approach and solution. Phase Two, System Design, describes the process for the layout and design of the IVD instructional product. Phase Three, System Development, discusses the process followed to actually develop and construct an IVD system. Lastly, Phase Four, System Test and Evaluation, will describe the formative evaluation process through which the IVD product and system is proven ready for use.

scholarly journals Self-Assessment of Critical Thinking Skills in EFL Writing Courses at the University Level: Reconsideration of the Critical Thinking Construct

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arab World English Journal ◽  
Youssef Nadri ◽  
Adil Azhar
Keyword(s):  
Critical Thinking ◽  
Formative Evaluation ◽  
Evaluation Process ◽  
Thinking Skills ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Critical Thinking Skills ◽  
Assessment Practices ◽  
Metacognitive Skills ◽  
Self Assessment ◽  
Efl Writing

The Critical Thinking (CT) component has by now secured a key place within EFL curriculum aims and objectives. The integration of a CT dimension into the teaching of the writing skill in particular has received considerable attention in research. However, research has also pointed to the failure of assessment practices to evaluate CT development. It is within this context that the present work advocates a standard based approach to the assessment of CT in EFL writing that aligns assessment criteria to the critical abilities articulated in the learning outcomes (i.e., standards). This fosters a conception of CT measures that associates components of CT with higher order writing skills. Accordingly, the first objective of the study is to empirically test the relationship between CT dispositions and metacognitive strategy use in an attempt to establish a model of writing (self-)assessment that combines these two dimensions. As assessment is viewed as a formative evaluation process subservient of learning, the study also targets the students’ self-assessment strategies during the writing process. To this purpose, a questionnaire has been designed, and administered to 100 students at the Faculty of Letters and Human Sciences in Rabat to tap their perceptions and use of CT skills. The data analysis revealed that critical thinking development and assessment are metacognitive in nature; it follows that metacognitive skills such as planning, self-evaluating and reflecting are to be used as an essential vehicle in the development of Critical Thinking skills. This points to the paramount role of CT-informed formative (self-)assessment practices in benefiting ELT writing learners.

scholarly journals Interactive Media Development of Procedures for Prayer (Tara Shalat) Based on Adobe Flash in Improving the Skills of Madrasah Ibtidaiyah Prayers

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-182
Author(s):  
Guntur Cahyono
Keyword(s):  
Field Trial ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Formative Evaluation ◽  
Interactive Learning ◽  
Interactive Media ◽  
Evaluation Process ◽  
First Grade ◽  
Development Research ◽  
Adobe Flash ◽  
Final Design

This research aims to develop interactive learning media for adobe flash-based prayer procedures/Tara (Tata Cara Shalat). Interactive media can develop prayer skills that are taught in the habituation process since the first grade of Madrasah Ibtidaiyah (MI).  This research used development research (RD) methods.  The development process in this study reached the stage of the formative evaluation process consisting of three steps, namely individual prototype material trials, small group trials, and field tryouts.  This field trial involved subjects in a larger class, involving 15-30 (a whole class of learners) or larger groups, namely the available classes.  The results of this field trial were used to make a product, material, or final design revisions. Interactive learning media can solve the problem of prayer skills regarding recitation and movement of prayer.  Thus, interactive learning media made it easier for students to understand the procedures for prayer quickly; besides, the learning process will be more enjoyable

scholarly journals Stillbirth in Canada: anachronistic definition and registration processes impede public health surveillance and clinical care

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.S. Joseph ◽  
Lily Lee ◽  
Laura Arbour ◽  
Nathalie Auger ◽  
Elizabeth K. Darling ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Public Health Surveillance ◽  
Fetal Death ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Induced Abortion ◽  
Death Registration ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Induced Abortions ◽  
History Of ◽  
Definition Of

AbstractThe archaic definition and registration processes for stillbirth currently prevalent in Canada impede both clinical care and public health. The situation is fraught because of definitional problems related to the inclusion of induced abortions at ≥20 weeks’ gestation as stillbirths: widespread uptake of prenatal diagnosis and induced abortion for serious congenital anomalies has resulted in an artefactual temporal increase in stillbirth rates in Canada and placed the country in an unfavourable position in international (stillbirth) rankings. Other problems with the Canadian stillbirth definition and registration processes extend to the inclusion of fetal reductions (for multi-fetal pregnancy) as stillbirths, and the use of inconsistent viability criteria for reporting stillbirth. This paper reviews the history of stillbirth registration in Canada, provides a rationale for updating the definition of fetal death and recommends a new definition and improved processes for fetal death registration. The recommendations proposed are intended to serve as a starting point for reformulating issues related to stillbirth, with the hope that building a consensus regarding a definition and registration procedures will facilitate clinical care and public health.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document