142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

Annual Meeting Recordings are now available for purchase

308011
School based feasibility studies: Identifying measures of success

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Sunday, November 16, 2014

Diane McNaughton, PhD, APHN-BC , Department of Community, Systems, and Mental Health Nursing, Rush University College of Nursing, Chicago, IL
Julia Muennich Cowell, PhD, RNC, FAAN , College of Nursing, Community and Mental Health Nursing, Rush University, Chicago, IL
School based feasibility studies: identifying measures of success

Feasibility studies are used to assess acceptance of emerging interventions, ease of implementation and trends in benefits for participants. Findings provide beginning evidence to support (or not support) further research with larger sample sizes and sufficient power to detect statistically significant outcomes. Challenges occur when selecting criteria to determine feasibility; since criteria are not standardized and vary between studies. Intervention studies to promote health in schools have unique challenges due to competing demands for time and space during the school day. A review of characteristics of successful (feasible) interventions is warranted to determine successful strategies that can be replicated.  The purposes of this research review are to: identify criteria used to determine feasibility, selection of research design such as use of control conditions, measures used, statistical methods and qualitative approaches, and to identify characteristics of interventions that are feasible in school settings.   

Methods: A search of electronic data bases (CINAHL, Psych Info, ERIC, pub med) was conducted to locate school based feasibility studies published between 2005-2013 using the following search terms: school, school based, feasibility, pilot, intervention, research, and health promotion.  The PRISMA Group guidelines provide the analytic framework for systematic reviews. Preliminary results: The majority of studies used participant satisfaction and intervention attendance/retention rates to support feasibility. Studies using statistical tests were based on effect size and a small number were randomized controlled trials.  Conclusions:  Analysis is still in progress. Opportunities to strengthen design of future feasibility studies will be recommended.

 

Learning Areas:

Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Public health or related nursing
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Identify three criteria used to determine feasibility in school based research. Describe characteristics of interventions that are feasible in school settings.

Keyword(s): School-Based Health, Research

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been the principal investigator on several federally funded school based intervention studies.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

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.