You are in: North America
Change location

You are here

Book > Textbooks > Health Evaluation

Disable VAT on Taiwan

Unfortunately, as of 1 January 2020 SAGE Ltd is no longer able to support sales of electronically supplied services to Taiwan customers that are not Taiwan VAT registered. We apologise for any inconvenience. For more information or to place a print-only order, please contact uk.customerservices@sagepub.co.uk.

The Practice of Health Program Evaluation
Share
Share

The Practice of Health Program Evaluation

Second Edition
October 2015 | 352 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc
Download flyer
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. 

To view a sample syllabus, please click here.

 
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

“I’ve used this textbook with public health graduate students for years, and both the students and I appreciate the practical, organized, accessible approach. . . . [The] Second Edition reflects important developments in the evaluation field . . . [and] is a book that students will want to keep on their bookshelves long after graduating, and will find themselves consulting over the course of their careers.”

Amanda S. Birnbaum
Montclair State University

“This text identifies the key areas facing today’s public health researchers, practitioners, and students.”

Leah Christina Neubauer
DePaul University

Praise for the Previous Edition

“A well-organized and readable text on evaluating health programs. It covers the essentials of choosing an evaluation design, planning and conducting the evaluation, and using the results of the evaluation."

Ronald Andersen
University of California, Los Angeles

"I found many instances where I thought students would get key concepts and ideas more quickly than they would from other texts. I was thrilled to see a discussion of ethics and culture in the text. The author provides clear explanations of important concepts and uses examples throughout the text." 

Robin Lin Miller
University of Illinois at Chicago

Still considering this text.

Dr Julie Baldwin
Interdiscipline , Missouri State Univ
November 13, 2015
Report this review
Key features

NEW TO THIS EDITION:

  • A stronger emphasis on program theory encourages readers to establish a strong theoretical base to increase the effectiveness of health programs.
  • Updated and increased coverage of causal inference in impact evaluations addresses important new models by key scholars and makes the material more relevant for readers.
  • New content on conducting evaluations of program implementation using mixed methods (quantitative and qualitative) has been added to Chapter 6.
  • Chapter 2 now includes guidance on conducting a stakeholder analysis, allowing evaluators to keep this group involved and top-of-mind throughout the evaluation process.
  • New “Rules of Thumb” offer simple, practical guidance on carrying out successful evaluations in the field to keep readers focused and on task.
  • Revised descriptions of quantitative analyses for causal inference (propensity scores and instrumental variables) and mediation analysis have been added to Chapter 9, allowing evaluators a means to correcting bias.

 KEY FEATURES:

  • A walk-through of the sequential steps of carrying out the evaluation and disseminating its findings provides valuable guidance for first-time evaluators. 
  • Coverage includes not only what to do, but also how to do it, making the book practical and setting the book apart from other books in the field.
  • Rigorous, cutting-edge methods for conducting impact and process evaluations reflect the latest developments in the field to keep readers up to date.
  • A unique Chapter 4 on impact evaluation pulls together and integrates current approaches to causal inference in one chapter.
  • Methods for evaluating health programs are included, such as public health programs to reduce smoking, adopt a healthy diet, increase exercise, and prevent falls in older adults, along with health system interventions in medical care or public health agencies, to addresses issues known today.
  • An extensive list of references provides a gateway to the literature on the evaluation of health programs and health systems for more exploration opportunities.

Sample Materials & Chapters

Copyright

Chapter 1

Sage College Publishing

You can purchase or sample this product on our Sage College Publishing site:

Go To College Site