Online Program

286087
Defining the spectrum of evidence for policy, system and environmental change strategies: Forum for feedback


Tuesday, November 5, 2013 : 3:10 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Amanda Cash, DrPH, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, US Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC
Sarah Lifsey, MPP, Altarum Institute, Washington, DC
Background: Decision-makers and practitioners need a clear, easy-to-understand framework to identify promising and effective policy, system and environmental (PSE) strategies that are most likely to make meaningful and lasting changes in their communities, states, and regions. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has commissioned an expert panel of researchers, policy makers, and community and state practitioners to define this evidence spectrum for PSE strategies. Methods: A review of grey, extant, and published literature on tools and methods related to assessing evidence for PSE was conducted and turned into a brief report. Panelists will have reached agreement on PSE definitions, defined the evidence-based spectrum, develop guidelines for quality assessment and inclusion criteria, and developed a protocol to examine the evidence. Results: The defined evidence spectrum will go beyond the typical evidence-based reviews of assessing the relationship of a specific program intervention to health outcomes. In addition to identifying useful health outcomes, the Panel will also consider the inclusion of intermediate or proximal outcomes and critically examine community processes and engagement. In addition, the quality assessment will consider methodologies beyond replicated, randomized control trials. The panelists' draft spectrum will be completed by September 2013. HHS staff and key panel members will present their process and the resulting spectrum, and participant input will be sought using participatory techniques. Discussion: Participating audience members will be asked to have an open discussion about how the spectrum can be a meaningful tool for examining the evidence for PSE for the public health community.

Learning Areas:

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

Learning Objectives:
Discuss and analyze a newly developed spectrum of evidence for policy, systems and environmental change strategies and its strengths and limitations for the field. Assess and provide input as to the utility and practicality of the evidence spectrum for the public health community and other relevant stakeholders

Keyword(s): Evidence Based Practice, Community-Based Public Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a public health professional with over a decade of experience in developing and implementing public health programs and policies with specific expertise in planning and evaluation, policy development and analysis, strategic planning, and qualitative and quantitative research. This experience as well as previous abstract submissions that have resulted in APHA presentations qualify me to submit this abstract.
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.

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