Evidence-Based Practice and Evaluation of the Project Through Measureable Goals
Overview: Dr. Marcia Stanhope (2016) explained that evidence-based public health practice refers to those decisions made by using the best available evidence, data and information systems and program frameworks; engaging community stakeholders in the decision-making process; evaluating the results; and then disseminating that information to those who can use the information.
Practicum Discussion: This week, your assignment will be to incorporate all of the information you have gathered from the community—including the population itself, health data, interviews/conversations with interested community members, and your community assessment, including your Windshield Survey—as well as what you have gathered from scholarly literature to propose measureable interventions. Measureable interventions mean that the results can be measured through some data that could be collected (Stanhope, 2016). This requires thinking in terms of actions and then measuring results. An evaluation of interventions is important to see whether or not they are effective in solving a health care problem. Remember, you will need to use the data you gathered to determine whether or not a problem exists in your community and to then determine whether your interventions might be effective.
Please discuss the following points in your Practicum Discussion:
- Identify one evidence-based behavior change that would promote health in your selected population.
- Suggest one specific culturally sensitive, evidence-based, measureable intervention to address the health problem for your selected population.
- Think in terms of measuring outcomes. What outcomes would you expect to see once the intervention(s) are in place? Be specific.