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

Abstract #107771

Gregory K. Steele, DrPH, MPH, Department of Public Health, Indiana University School of Medicine, 1050 Wishard Blvd. RG 4165, Indianapolis, IN 46202, 317 274 3174, gsteele@iupui.edu, Tess Weathers, MPH, Department of Public Health, Indiana University, 1050 Wishard Boulevard, Indianapolis, IN 46202, Sandra Cummings, MSW, Chronic Disease Program, Marion County Health Department, 3838 North Rural Stret, Indianapolis, IN 46205, Joseph Gibson, MPH, PhD, Director of Epidemiology, Health & Hospital Corporation of Marion County, 3838 N. Rural, Indianapolis, IN 46205, and Susan Moriarty, MD, Director of Clinical Preventive Services, Maion County Health Department, 3838 N. Rural, Indianapolis, IN 46205.

The evidence-based public health movement offers promise of improved health outcomes through the selection of interventions of proven effectiveness. We describe the process one county health department used to implement EBPH in five key health areas: tobacco, childhood lead poisoning, obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

Leadership of the local health department engaged partners from an academic public health department to 1) search out and summarize the current state of the evidence regarding the county's top health priorities, 2) evaluate their existing interventions in light of the evidence, and 3) prepare a summary of epidemiologic data to place the evidence in context.

The academic staff conducted searches of EBPH related websites and key organizations in the areas of interest. Identified reviews were assessed for their adherence to a list of methodological standards. Interviews with county staff were held to obtain information regarding current initiatives. Epidemiologic data were secured from available county, state, and national sources to construct the epidemiological context for the evidence. Written reports compared and contrasted EBPH recommendations and discussed alignment of current county programs with EBPH recommendations.

By engaging an academic public health partner to identify and evaluate the current evidence, the epidemiologic context, and conduct a program review, this health department was able to initiate EBPH across five key health areas in a relatively short time span. Health department staff has been equipped with action plans that begin the work of bringing current programs into compliance with EBPH principles.

Learning Objectives: 1. Describe the overall process used by a county health department to join the EPBH movement locally. 2. List the three main components of an initial assessment of your health department’s compliance with EBPH

1) Identify the evidence;
• Evaluate your current programs against this evidence;
• Summarize epidemiologic data to determine appropriate targets for EBPH interventions.
• Identify the possible programmatic outcomes of implementing EBPH activities.

Keywords: Evidence Based Practice, Community Involvement

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.

Recorded presentation