Required Content For Evaluation Project Paper ✓ Solved
Required Content for Evaluation Project Paper
1. Brief introduction and background on health behavior
a) Indicate your selected health behavior to change.
b) Explain why you chose to explore this particular health behavior.
c) Describe the negative health behavior and its current prevalence in the US as a whole and in your selected rural or underserved community.
d) What are the short- and long-term effects of the behavior on health and/or safety?
e) Be sure to cite all of the scholarly sources you used to answer these questions.
2. Description of health behavior change intervention
a) What was the target population for your intervention?
b) What specific activities were included in your intervention program?
c) Describe your timeline for implementing your intervention. Do not forget to include your evaluation strategies.
3. Description of evaluation of health behavior change intervention
a) Select which types of evaluations you conducted (formative, process, outcome or impact).
b) Provide a specific evaluation question for each type of evaluation you conducted.
c) Describe which study design (experimental, quasi-experimental and non-experimental) you used to explore each evaluation question selected in Part 3b.
d) Discuss which quantitative and qualitative data collection methods you employed to explore the evaluation questions selected in Part 3b.
e) Justify why you selected either quantitative or qualitative methods to explore each evaluation question based on the nature of each question.
4. Inclusion of raw data
a) Submit all of your quantitative (e.g. survey responses) and qualitative (e.g. transcripts of interviews/focus groups; field notes from observations) raw data in separate files along with your paper in the Assignment Dropbox.
5. Description of data analysis and interpretation
a) Though the quantitative data lacks validity due to the small sample size, describe how you would analyze the data (i.e., which statistical tests you would use) if the intervention had been completed with a larger sample size.
b) Describe the steps you completed when analyzing your qualitative data. Be sure to include open, axial and selective coding.
c) What were your main findings from the qualitative data? Please present these findings in the paper in a visual format (e.g. table; word cloud) as well as in the body of the paper.
d) What are the implications of your qualitative evaluation findings for your intervention?
e) What are the broader implications of your qualitative evaluation findings for Public Health research, policy or practice?
Paper For Above Instructions
Health Behavior Change Project: Addressing Obesity in Rural Areas
The rising prevalence of obesity has become a critical public health concern across the United States, particularly in rural and underserved communities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the prevalence of obesity among adults was 42.4% in 2017-2018, with significant disparities seen based on geographic location (CDC, 2020). In this paper, I will address the intervention strategies necessary to combat obesity in a selected rural community, exploring the current landscape of this health behavior and assessing effective behavior change approaches.
Selected Health Behavior for Change
Obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, was chosen as the health behavior for intervention because it has far-reaching implications for individual and community health, including increased risks for diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers (World Health Organization, 2021). The rural area of study, Appalachian Kentucky, exhibits particularly high rates of obesity, often attributed to factors such as limited access to healthy foods and lack of recreational facilities.
Description of Health Behavior Change Intervention
The target population for the intervention will consist of adults aged 30-55 in Appalachian Kentucky, a demographic known for high obesity rates and limited healthcare access. The proposed intervention program includes community-based activities such as nutritional workshops, physical activity classes, and initiatives to improve access to fresh produce through community gardens and farmer's markets.
The implementation timeline is structured over six months, with the first month dedicated to community engagement and recruitment, followed by three months of intervention activities and two months for evaluation and data collection.
Description of Evaluation of Health Behavior Change Intervention
For the evaluation, a mixed-methods approach will be employed, encompassing formative, process, outcome, and impact evaluations. Each type will guide the assessment of intervention effectiveness, with questions such as: "What barriers do participants face in adhering to the nutritional guidelines introduced during workshops?" for formative evaluations.
The study design will include quasi-experimental methods, utilizing pre- and post-intervention surveys to assess changes in BMI and self-reported health behaviors. Qualitative data will be collected through focus groups aimed at examining participants' lived experiences and perceptions regarding the intervention.
Data Collection Methods
Quantitative data will be gathered via surveys distributed at the beginning and end of the program, measuring BMI changes and dietary habits. Qualitative data will be obtained from audio-recorded focus group discussions, which will be transcribed for analysis. Both data types will provide a comprehensive understanding of the intervention's impact and participant experiences.
Inclusion of Raw Data
Upon completion of the intervention, raw data files will include quantitative information from survey responses and qualitative transcripts from focus group interviews. These will be submitted alongside the final report to allow for thorough evaluation.
Description of Data Analysis and Interpretation
The initial analysis of quantitative data will involve basic descriptive statistics, followed by t-tests to determine the significance of changes in BMI. Though limited by sample size, these tests provide initial insights. For qualitative data analysis, I will utilize open, axial, and selective coding, aiming to identify recurring themes and factors that influenced participant engagement and program effectiveness. Findings will be visually presented, incorporating a word cloud to illustrate main themes emerging from the discussions of the focus groups.
The implications of qualitative findings can directly inform strategy enhancement for the intervention, emphasizing community-specific barriers and motivators. This is essential for tailoring future health promotion initiatives.
Broader implications highlight the necessity for policymakers to prioritize obesity interventions in rural regions, addressing systemic barriers to healthcare access and encouraging investment in community-based health solutions.
Conclusion
This proposed health behavior change intervention aims not only to address the obesity epidemic in Appalachian Kentucky but also to contribute valuable data towards understanding effective public health strategies in underserved communities. By employing a mixed-methods evaluation approach, future interventions can be improved based on both quantitative outcomes and participants’ qualitative experiences, leading to enhanced public health strategies across similar geographical contexts.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Adult Obesity Facts. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html
- World Health Organization. (2021). Obesity and Overweight. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/obesity-and-overweight
- Jeffery, R. W., & Drewnowski, A. (2010). Obesity and the Environment: Where Do We Go from Here? International Journal of Obesity, 34(3), 410-422.
- Garnett, S. P., & Baur, L. A. (2018). Prevention of Childhood Obesity: A Systematic Review of Randomized Control Trials. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 42(3), 275-281.
- Stamatakis, E., & Wardle, J. (2015). Socioeconomic Differences in Lifestyle: The Contribution of Health Behaviors to Socioeconomic Inequalities in Health. Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 69(4), 354-360.
- Ritchie, L. D., & Jones, S. J. (2016). The Role of the Local Food Environment in Food Security and Obesity. Journal of Public Health Policy, 37(4), 489-511.
- Gonzalez, S., & Safdar, N. (2017). Harnessing Ecological Approaches to Reduce Health Disparities in Rural Communities: Implications for Policy. American Journal of Public Health, 107(6), 893-898.
- Booth, M., & Okely, A. D. (2017). Family-Based Interventions for Increasing Physical Activity in Children: A Systematic Review. Health Education Research, 32(3), 240-252.
- Farahani, T., & Parvizi, S. (2020). Strategies to Address Obesity in Rural Communities: A Comprehensive Review. Health Promotion International, 35(2), 175-185.