Section: Module 4: Evaluating Programs, Policies, and Addressing Problems | Health Policy and Management | NextGenU.org

  • Competencies covered in this module:
    • Develop and implement strategies based on relevant evidence, legislation, emergency planning procedures, regulations, and policies.
    • Select methods to evaluate public health programs.
    • Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity.
    • Apply quality and performance improvement concepts to address organizational performance issues.
    • Apply scientific principles and concepts to inform discussion on health-related, fiscal, administrative, legal, social, and political issues in the workplace.
    • Apply “systems thinking” for resolving organizational problems.
    • Module 4: Lesson 1: Program Implementation and Evaluation
       
      Student Learning Objectives:

      Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to:

      • Explain the key components required for effective public health program implementation.
      • Propose an action plan for effective public health program implementation.
      • Identify methods for the evaluation of public health programs.
      • Examine the strengths and weaknesses of different methods in public health program evaluation.
      • Explain the connection between evidence-based initiatives and policy achievement.
      • Critique a public health policy for its impact on public health and health equity.

      Approximate time required for the readings for this lesson (at 144 words/minute): 8 hours and 28 minutes.

       
      Required Learning Resources and Activities
    • Read the entire article. (28 minutes)

      NCBI/ Am J Public Health. - 2014

    • Read the entire webpage. (5 minutes)

      AHA Community Health Improvement - 2022

    • Read the entire PDF. (35 minutes)

      WHO - 2013

    • Read all the contents of Table 4. 

      Technical Research Centre of Finland2013

    • Read the section "What is evidence-based policymaking and why is it important?" (3 minutes)

      Evidence-based Policy Making Collabortavie2016

    • "Read the content under the heading "Background", "Contextual Framework", and "Discussions." (18 minutes)

      BMC Public Health2018

    • Watch the entire webinar The talk will discuss the importance of adopting a public health approach to substance use prevention, and to using epidemiological data for the planning and evaluation of all programs and interventions aimed at preventing or reducing substance use. (75 minutes)

    • forum icon
      Activity 11: Public Health Policy Critique (180 minutes) Forum

      You will be provided with a few historically known public health policy interventions. Then, you need to pick one and give an overall critique of the policy's efficacy in public health and health equity, including positive and potentially negative outcomes. 

      Instructions:

      Step 1: Review and Research

      Review the learning resources on Critiquing public health policy for its impact on public health and health equity. Then, pick one policy from this list and look at the readings, you can do additional research based on which topic you choose: 

      Step 2: Critique 

      You will now evaluate the policy chosen with emphasis on their impact on public health and health equity. In your work, you should discuss:

      • What topic you chose and why.
      • An overall commentary on how effective the policy has been, using examples and evidence.
      • How the policy works to ensure health equity 
      • Positive outcomes of the policy with examples
      • Potentially negative outcomes of the policy with examples wherever applicable 

      Step 3: Share

      To share your work, click on the “Add a new discussion topic” button under this post and paste your work in the “Message” box. “Post to forum.” Make sure to reference others’ intellectual property when necessary. All references should follow 7th Edition APA formatting. For further instructions, see the resource on the Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library: APA citation resource (N.B. references are excluded from word counts).

      OPTIONAL Step 4: Interact (10 minutes)

      If you would like to, you can reply to your peers' posts in a respectful and professional manner. Ensure that your post engages your peers' ideas by including a reflection on their comments, sharing ideas of other potential difficulties and parties involved, or asking thought-provoking questions. If a peer comments on your posting, please reply. To post a reply, click “Reply” on a particular discussion, write your feedback and then click on “Post to forum.”


      Not available unless: The activity Quiz: Module 3 is complete and passed
    • Module 4: Lesson 2: Addressing Problems in Program Implementation
       
      Student Learning Objectives:

      Upon completion of this lesson, you will be able to:

      • Describe common organizational performance issues in healthcare (health-related, fiscal, administrative, legal, and political).
      • Explain quality and performance concepts and models to improve organizational performance.
      • Define the scientific principles that inform health management-related discussions in the workplace.
      • Demonstrate the use of quality and performance improvement concepts to address organizational and performance issues.
      • Explain the concept of systems thinking and why it is important for policymaking.
      • Implement systems thinking to address organizational problems.

      Approximate time required for the readings for this lesson (at 144 words/minute):  8 hours and 2 minutes.

       
      Required Learning Resources and Activities
    • Read the entire PDF. (10 minutes)

      WHO2017

    • Read pages 5 to 9. (11 minutes)

      WHO 2016

    • Read the entire page. (28 minutes)

      Saudi Journal of anesthesia2020

    • Read the entire webpage. (4 minutes)

      The University of North Carolina at Pembroke2020

    • Read the entire article. (10 minutes)

      NCBI2015

    • Read the entire page. (11 minutes)

      AHRQ2020

    • Read the entire page. (2 minutes)

      PHF2014

    • Read the first 5 paragraphs of the Introduction. (3 minutes)

      Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development 2019

    • Read the content under the heading "Background," "Results," and "Discussion." (42 minutes)

      IJHPM2020

    • forum icon
      Activity 12: Scenario (180 minutes) Forum

      You will be provided with a series of issues from which you will choose one and then propose a short strategy for addressing the issue. You are required to justify the use of the concepts/models of quality and performance improvement and systems thinking.

      Step 1: Review and Research

      Review the learning resources on Organizational Performance Issues in healthcare and on Improving Organizational Performance. Then, from the list, select an issue to research and base your assignment on.

      • Communication Issues during Care Transitions 
      • Use of substandard and counterfeit medicines
      • Impaired communication between patients and family and between health professionals and the patient’s family.

      Step 2: Propose

      Write a proposal in 600-700 words for a short strategy to help address the issue chosen, remember to use evidence and examples to justify the concepts/models you are using and remember to employ systems thinking. Your response should introduce and explain the performance improvement concepts that inform your proposed strategy.

      Step 3: Share

      To share your work, click on the “Add a new discussion topic” button under this post and paste your work in the “Message” box. “Post to forum.” Make sure to reference others’ intellectual property when necessary. All references should follow 7th Edition APA formatting. For further instructions, see the resource on the Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library: APA citation resource (N.B. references are excluded from word counts).

      OPTIONAL Step 4: Interact (10 minutes)

      If you would like to, you can reply to your peers' posts in a respectful and professional manner. Ensure that your post engages your peers' ideas by including a reflection on their comments, sharing ideas of other potential difficulties and parties involved, or asking thought-provoking questions. If a peer comments on your posting, please reply. To post a reply, click “Reply” on a particular discussion, write your feedback and then click on “Post to forum.”


    • quiz icon
      Quiz: Module 4

      To access the quiz, click on the name of the quiz provided above. On the following screen, click the Attempt Quiz button to view the case studies and respond to the questions.

      TO PASS THIS QUIZ YOU MUST OBTAIN A SCORE OF 80%.

      Not available unless: The activity Activity 12: Scenario (180 minutes) is marked complete