C. Design the Program
1. Identify Desired
Outcomes (continued)
The following table illustrates the relationships
between interventions, performance measures, outcomes, indicators,
and results.
The Road from
Interventions to Results |
| Interventions |
Performance Measures |
Outcomes |
Indicators |
Desired Results |
| Activities designed to achieve desired outcomes |
Measures of the effectiveness of the intervention/ activities |
Changes that, when combined, achieve the desired result |
Measures that quantify achievement of outcomes |
Change in well-being of target audience |
| Example: conduct screenings to assess oral health of children |
Example: number of screenings conducted |
Example: parents are educated about the importance
of children’s
oral health and about the dental home |
Example: number of parents educated |
Example: incidence of children with untreated tooth decay
decreases |
Interventions must be driven by evidence of their
effectiveness. It is important to avoid wasting resources on
interventions or
activities that will not have a positive impact. Evaluation is
key as well. Indicators must be measurable (i.e., indicators and
data are available) and understandable. A useful resource when
considering indicators is The
Community Indicators Handbook.
A
comprehensive resource for community and program development
assistance is the Community
Tool Box Web site. This site is maintained by the
University of Kansas and was developed in collaboration with
AHEC/community partners in Massachusetts. The core of the tool
box is the topic
sections, which include practical guidance for many different
tasks necessary to promote community health that are applicable
to oral
health programs. Step-by-step instructions, examples, checklists,
and related resources are available.
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