UTILIZATION OF PROGRAM EVALUATION FOR DECISION-MAKING REGARDING HOSPITAL BASED, PATIENT/CLIENT FOCUSED HEALTH EDUCATION PROGRAMS.
Contributors: University of Iowa.
Published: 1991
Number of pages: 190
Subjects: Education, Health.; Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: In today's society, the hospital setting is increasingly being used as the location for health education programs that will assist individuals in achieving their maximum health potential. This study addresses the uses of evaluations of hospital based health education programs that are patient/client centered. The specific research questions asked were: (1) what types (context, input, process or product) of evaluations of patient/client focused health education programs are being conducted in the hospital setting; (2) what factors contribute to the usefulness of the evaluations; and (3) what actual uses are made of the evaluations. Stufflebeam's CIPP model (context, input, process, product) of evaluation was used to collect data on the types of evaluation being conducted. The works of Patton and Burry were used to organize the data describing the usefulness and the uses of the evaluations.

A structured mailed questionnaire developed by the investigator was sent to a stratified random sample of 160 hospitals of four different sizes in each of four mid-western states. A phone call to each hospital administrator was made prior to mailing the questionnaire. Both phone and mail follow ups were used in contacting non-respondents. A response rate of 83 percent was achieved.

Forty-eight percent of the respondents reported that product evaluations were usually done and less than 25% reported that other types of evaluations were usually done. The primary source of evaluation data was providers rather than recipients of health care. Personal factors contributed most to the usefulness of the evaluation results. Evaluation results were most commonly used to guide decisions about program revisions.

While some limited evaluations of hospital health education programs are undertaken, those evaluations are limited in scope. Further, little patient input is sought regarding planning, structuring, or implementing hospital based health education programs designed to assist patients in achieving their maximum health potential.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 52-12, Section: A, page: 4231.

Thesis (PH.D.)--THE UNIVERSITY OF IOWA, 1991.

School code: 0096.