APHA
Back to Annual Meeting
APHA 2007 APHA
Back to Annual Meeting
APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing
4029.0: Tuesday, November 06, 2007 - 9:15 AM

Abstract #165103

Building the evidence base for policy and environmental approaches to obesity prevention: A cross-site evaluation of a comprehensive community health initiative

Pamela Schwartz, MPH, Kaiser Permanente, One Kaiser Plaza, Oakland, CA 94612, (510) 271-5630, Pamela.M.Schwartz@kp.org

This presentation will give an overview of the approach to evaluation in the KP HEAL initiatives and present early results. The majority of the KP HEAL evaluation effort is devoted to assessing the impact of the Community Health Initiative (CHI). A national cross-site evaluation of CHI is being conducted by the Group Health Community Foundation's Center for Community Health and Evaluation, in partnership with the University of California at Berkeley Center for Weight and Health and the Kansas University Work Group.

The evaluation uses a case study design to describe and assess process and short-term outcomes related to sustainable programs and policy and environmental changes. A quasi-experimental design using youth surveys and automated phone surveys will assess the longer-term population-level impact of CHI on outcomes such as obesity, physical activity, and diet.

Multiple data sources are being used to create the structured case study for each community. The case studies are organized around each community's action plan, which describes the objectives, timeline, and expected outcomes for each intervention strategy. Additional information collected through the reporting protocol will include community contextual variables and challenges/lessons learned.

In addition to the CHI evaluation, the KP organizational practice changes are being documented and their impact assessed. CCHE is also working with local KP regions to evaluate other HEAL activities, including community partnerships and farmer's markets.

Learning Objectives:

  • At the conclusion of this presentation the participants will be able to

    Presenting author's disclosure statement:

    Any relevant financial relationships? No
    Any institutionally-contracted trials related to this submission?

    I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

    A Comprehensive Approach to Obesity Prevention by an Integrated Health Care Delivery System: Kaiser Permanente's Health Eating Active Living Initiatives

    The 135th APHA Annual Meeting & Exposition (November 3-7, 2007) of APHA