Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #105072

Sue Ann Sarpy, PhD, Dept. Env. Health Sciences, South Central Center for Public Health Preparedness, School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Tulane University, 1430 Tulane Avenue, SL29, New Orleans, LA 70112, 504-988-7150, ssarpy@tulane.edu and Jennifer Kaufman, PhD, ISR Surveys, 956 Alla Avenue, Concord, CA 94518.

Researchers have long recognized the need for comprehensive, systematic evaluations of safety and health training. In particular, comprehensive evaluation systems that integrate both qualitative and quantitative research methods are needed. In response, we developed a rigorous process for objectively evaluating the program effectiveness of eight minority health and safety training programs for the Center to Protect Workers' Rights (CPWR). The present study describes our integrated programmatic evaluation process implemented across three program years. In order to provide a comprehensive representation of what practices or strategies are utilized, why and how those particular strategies have been implemented, as well as the relative effectiveness of the strategies for achieving program goals and objectives, our approach used a combination of qualitative and quantitative data collection. Further, our evaluation process also utilized a multiple stakeholder evaluation system in which both qualitative and quantitative data were collected from multiple sources (e.g., current and graduated program participants, program coordinators, advisory committee members). This technique allows us to impart a more thorough and accurate analysis of program effectiveness and lends more credibility to the evaluation process, particularly regarding feedback of the results. Results of the evaluation are discussed with respect to assessing effectiveness in meeting program-specific criteria, overall performance, and impact on respective communities and the field of environmental work. Moreover, use of the evaluation process in assessing the effectiveness of other health and safety training interventions and implications for using qualitative and quantitative research in ensuring continuous improvement to health and safety training interventions are discussed.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Describe the components of the evaluation process developed to evaluate the effectiveness of the safety and health training programs including the qualitative and quantitative methods utilized.
• 2. Describe the results of the evaluation system including the integration of the qualitative and quantitative data in addressing program effectiveness.
• 3. Discuss the implications of using the evaluation system in assessing the effectiveness of other safety and health training interventions.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.