A UTILIZATION-FOCUSED EVALUATION OF THE U.S. PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE PRIMARY CARE POLICY FELLOWSHIP (UNITED STATES PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE).
Contributors: George Mason University.
Published: 1993
Number of pages: 181
Subjects: Health Sciences, Public Health.; Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: The purpose of this study was to evaluate outcomes of a three-week U.S. Public Health Service Primary Care Policy Fellowship (PCF). Since evaluation results have a greater likelihood of being utilized for programmatic improvement if the evaluator seeks the ongoing input of program stakeholders (directors and funders), a utilization-focus approach was instituted. A Theory of Action served as the conceptual framework (Patton, 1986).

The two outcomes targeted included: measures of individual and group self-perceived changes in knowledge, attitudes and skills and measures of adoption of new practices and behavior over time. Also, because the fellowship was new, the reactions of the fellows were reviewed in an attempt to gain greater clarity and perspective towards the outcomes in which the stakeholders were interested.

Data collection was achieved through a pre-, post-, and six-month assessment survey instrument, participant observation, informal interviewing, and an evaluation focus group. Methodological triangulation was used to increase the validity and reliability of the findings.

Findings indicated that PCF fellows liked and found most useful those activities that most closely matched their incoming expectations, such as networking. An ANOVA revealed that a knowledge increase between the pre- and the post-assessment was statistically significantly at the $p < .05$ level, with no statistically significant decrease at the six-month assessment. Attitudes did not change among the three time intervals. Six-month assessment findings included increased lobbying for primary care, elevated job status, and broadened perspectives.

Although the utilization approach was credited with subsequent changes in the fellowship, using it, especially in conjunction with methodological triangulation, was expensive. Major recommendations for further study included conducting a cost-benefit analysis of the utilization approach, conducting a 1-year evaluation, and tracking the fellows to determine those who actually influence a piece of legislation or policy in favor of primary care.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 54-02, Section: B, page: 0767.

Thesis (PH.D.)--GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY, 1993.

School code: 0883.