ePrints

Assessing the Evaluability of Complex Public Health Interventions: Five Questions for Researchers, Funders, and Policymakers

Lookup NU author(s): Professor Martin White

Downloads

Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.

Abstract

Context: Evidence to support government programmes to improve public health is often weak. Recognition of this ‘knowledge gap’ has led to calls for more and better evaluation, but decision-making around priorities for evaluation also needs to be addressed in the context of financial restraint. Methods: Using the Healthy Community Challenge Fund in England as a case study, we have developed a set of questions to stimulate and structure debate between researchers, funders and policymakers and help make decisions about evaluation within and between complex public health interventions as they evolve from initial concept to dissemination of full-scale intervention packages. Findings: Our approach can be used to identify the types of knowledge that might be generated from any possible evaluation given the strength of evidence available in response to each of five questions, and to support more systematic consideration of resource allocation decisions depending on the types of knowledge required. Conclusions: The principles of our approach are potentially generalisable and could be tested and refined in the context of other complex public health and wider social interventions.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Ogilvie D, Cummins S, Petticrew M, White M, Jones A, Wheeler K

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Milbank Quarterly

Year: 2011

Volume: 89

Issue: 2

Pages: 206-225

Print publication date: 15/06/2011

ISSN (print): 0887-378X

ISSN (electronic): 1468-0009

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing, Inc.

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-0009.2011.00626.x

DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-0009.2011.00626.x

Altmetrics

Share