The Practice of Health Program Evaluation

Reflecting the latest developments in the field, the Second Edition provides readers with effective methods for evaluating health programs, policies, and health care systems, offering expert guidance for collaborating with stakeholders involved in the process. Author David Grembowski explores evaluation as a three-act play: Act I shows evaluators how to work with decision makers and other groups to identify the questions they want answered; Act II covers selecting appropriate evaluation designs and methods to answer the questions and reveal insights about the program’s impacts, cost-effectiveness, and implementation; and Act III discusses making use of the findings. Packed with relevant examples and detailed explanations, the book offers a step-by-step approach that fully prepares readers to apply research methods in the practice of health program evaluation. 

Table of Contents:
1. Health Program Evaluation: Is It Worth It? Growth of Health Program Evaluation Types of Health Program Evaluation Summary List of Terms Study Questions 2. The Evaluation Process as a Three-Act Play Evaluation as a Three-Act Play Role of the Evaluator Evaluation in a Cultural Context Ethical Issues Evaluation Standards Summary List of Terms Study Questions Act I: Asking the Question 3. Developing Evaluation Questions Step 1: Specify Program Theory Step 2: Specify Program Objectives Step 3: Translate Program Theory and Objectives Into Evaluation Questions Step 4: Select Key Questions Assessment of Fit Summary List of Terms Study Questions Act II: Answering the Question; Scene 1: Developing the Evaluation Design to Answer the Questions 4. Evaluation of Program Impacts Quasi-Experimental Study Designs Counterfactuals and Experimental Study Designs Statistical Threats to Validity Generalizability of Impact Evaluation Results Evaluation of Impact Designs and Meta-Analysis Summary List of Terms Study Questions 5. Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Cost-Effectiveness Analysis: An Aid to Decision Making Comparing Program Costs and Effects: The Cost-Effectiveness Ratio Types of Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Steps in Conducting a Cost-Effectiveness Analysis Evaluation of Program Effects and Costs Summary List of Terms Study Questions 6. Evaluation of Program Implementation Types of Evaluation Designs for Answering Implementation Questions Types of Implementation Questions and Designs for Answering Them Summary List of Terms Study Questions Act II: Answering the Question; Scenes 2 and 3: Developing the Methods to Carry Out the Design and Conducting the Evaluation 7. Population and Sampling Step 1: Identify the Target Populations of the Evaluation Step 2: Identify the Eligible Members of Each Target Population Step 3: Decide Whether Probability of Nonprobability Sampling is Necessary Step 4: Choose a Nonprobability Sampling Design for Answering an Evaluation Question Step 5: Choose a Probability Sampling Design Answering an Evaluation Question Step 6: Determine Minimum Sample Size Requirements Step 7: Select the Sample Summary List of Terms Study Questions 8. Measurement and Data Collection Measurement and Data Collection in Quantitative Evaluations Data Collection in Qualitative Evaluations Reliability and Validity in Qualitative Evaluations Management of Data Collection Summary Resources List of Terms Study Questions 9. Data Analysis Introduction Getting Started: What′s the Question? Qualitative Data Analysis Quantitative Data Analysis Summary List of Terms Study Questions Act III: Using the Answers in Decision Making 10. Disseminating the Answers to Evaluation Questions Scene 1: Translating Evaluation Answers Back Into Policy Language Scene 2: Developing a Dissemination Plan for Evaluation Answers Scene 3: Using the Answers in Decision Making and the Policy Cycle How Answers Are Used by Decision Makers Summary List of Terms Study Questions 11. Epilogue