Measuring health promotion impacts: A guide to impact evaluation in integrated health promotion

This guide from the Victorian Government Department of Human Services aims to assist in the design and implementation of impact evaluation methods and indicators for health care programs within primary care partnerships (PCPs).

While the guidance is aimed at agencies working within the PCP program, it is easily adapted to any agency looking at developing an impact evaluation in the field of health promotion programs and services. 

Excerpt

"Effective health promotion programs contribute to improved health outcomes, such as healthier lifestyles, more effective health services, healthier environments and, ultimately, decreased morbidity and disability and increased life expectancy, functional independence and quality of life. These changes in health status are referred to as the outcomes and they reflect fulfilling the goal of the program

These ultimate outcomes are influenced by a wide range of determinants, including a person’s physical, social and economic environment. Only a very small proportion of such determinants may be directly affected by a particular health promotion program. Moreover, changes to outcomes are likely to take place over a time period beyond the time-scale of most evaluations. (Department of Human Services, 2008)

For these reasons, when assessing the effects of health promotion programs, the more immediate changes in populations, individuals or their environments are considered. These changes are known as impacts and they reflect fulfilling the program objectives."

Contents

• The evaluation framework 3
  • Different levels of evaluation 3
  • Program logic 3
• Impact evaluation 5
  • Measuring health promotion impacts: general guidelines 5
• Capacity building strategies for health promotion 11
  • Organisational development 12
  • Workforce development 14
  • Resources – human, financial and information 15
• Health promotion interventions 17
  • Screening risk assessment and immunisation 17
  • Health information 18
  • Health education and skills development 20
  • Social marketing 22
  • Community action (for social and environmental change) 23
  • Settings and supportive environments 24
• Outcomes 27
• Appendix 1: Resources 29
  • Evaluating health promotion action 29
  • Health information, education and skills development 31
  • Community action 31
  • Capacity building – general 32
  • Organisational development and evaluating partnerships 32
  • Social marketing 33