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Evaluation Designs
Non Experimental evaluations are the least rigorous and least reliable. Non experimental trials might involve recording data before and after the delivery of an intervention, however the before and after groups do not consist of the same people.
Quasi-experimental evaluations involve the collection of data before and after an intervention, utilising the same individuals at both time points. Alternatively, data collected from the intervention group are compared with another similar group, who are not part of the intervention.
Experimental evaluations as the most rigorous and scientific approach to evaluation. A randomised controlled trial involves members of the research population being randomly assigned to either an intervention group or a control/ no intervention group. Data are collected in the same way for both groups and the differences in number and magnitude of changes are compared between the groups.
Economic evaluation is an important component of health promotion evaluations. Economic evaluations are usually carried out by experts (health economists), and involve a comparison of the financial costs of an intervention against the health gains, expressed in financial terms.
Cost-Effectiveness
- compares the relative expenditure (costs) and outcomes (effects) of two or more courses of action
- Often used to evaluate new interventions and compare with current practice
- Costs are usually in monetary terms
- Outcomes are measured in some other unit appropriate to the condition being treated
Cost-Benefit
- Usually considers one intervention at a time
- Assesses whether the value of the benefits is greater than the costs
- Both costs and benefits expressed in monetary terms
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