141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

293542
Evaluation of community-based programs to improve access to eye care among persons at high risk for glaucoma

Monday, November 4, 2013 : 5:20 PM - 5:40 PM

Saloni Sapru, PhD , Public Health Research and Evaluation, Westat, Rockville, MD
Jennifer Berktold, MA , Health Studies, Westat, Rockville, MD
Erika Bonilla , Westat, Rockville, MD
Glaucoma, which can produce vision loss, affects approximately 2.2 million U.S. adults older than 40. People of older age and African Americans are at greatest risk for this disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has funded two institutions to implement community-based programs to improve access to eye care among persons at high risk for glaucoma. Using innovative methods of educational outreach and eye exams, the two institutions mobilized community partners to assist them to effectively plan, develop, and implement community-based interventions for the detection and treatment of glaucoma among high risk populations. Although different with regard to their intervention and community outreach, the outcomes of the two programs are similar and contribute to CDC's overall goal of improving access to and utilization of eye care services to people most at risk for this disease. Westat is conducting a process and outcome evaluation of these two programs in order to assess the ability of the interventions to meet these larger program objectives. This presentation highlights our approach to the evaluation, including questions, methodology, and current activities. We apply the RE-AIM framework (Glasgow, et al 1999) for a shared platform of Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance indicators, and identify data sources to track and measure the indicators that contribute to common outcomes of the two programs. A program logic model further served as a roadmap to organize our inquiry and helped to harmonize CDC's public health goals with the more unique goals of each community-based program.

Learning Areas:
Conduct evaluation related to programs, research, and other areas of practice
Program planning
Public health or related education

Learning Objectives:
Describe how an evaluation framework is used to systematically develop a common process and outcome evaluation of different community-based eye care programs. Discuss the use of program evaluation as a management tool to assess what is working and why by looking at facilitators and barriers to the implementation of interventions. Understand how evidence-based knowledge can be transferred into routine practice.

Keywords: Vision Care, Evaluation

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been the project director of the present evaluation of the programs that have been implemented in two communities to improve access to eye care among people most at risk for glaucoma. Among my scientific interests has been the use of evaluation theory and methods in the planning and implementation of public health programs so as to optimize intervention benefits and prolong sustainability of the intervention in that context.
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.