Assignment #2

ECUR 809 – Assignment #2

After taking another look at the prenatal exercise program to promote physical fitness as a way to prevent gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in urban First Nations women, I have decided that Stufflebeam’s CIPP model would be an appropriate method of evaluation for it.  The Scriven summative model did provide some tactics that would be beneficial to the study of the program, such as the questionnaire that participants filled out to provide their own feedback on the structure and implementation of the program, but I think that the CIPP model is a more structured method that would allow for goals and outcomes to be clarified from the start. 

The context evaluation in this program is the need for finding a feasible way to decrease the onset of type 2 diabetes in urban Aboriginal women.  By defining this goal clearly from the start, the decision makers in the program can use their resources to find different opportunities to make the outcome a reality.    

The input evaluation is the way to address the practical aspects of the program to determine how sustainable it would be in the long run.  Staffing and facility usage are two pieces that would need to be budgeted for to determine cost-effectiveness in the onset of the program.  I think that this is critical at the beginning stages of the program because in the previous evaluation that I read, the program did not continue due to lack of funds.  If funding was determined to prolong the program from the beginning, it would see greater success.

The process evaluation would be assessed as women participated in the structured program, and records were maintained by staff to study the effectiveness and success of different forms of physical activities.  Changes could be made to scheduling conflicts and more time could be allotted for preferred exercise.  The final product evaluation would be determined after a group of women participated in the program for a specific time.  This is where I think the questionnaire would still be beneficial.  Feedback from participants would help to determine what changes could be made for greater success in meeting the targeted goals. 

The CIPP model provides a structured approach to evaluating the physical fitness program that I think would be valuable since it clearly states goals, it helps to address cost-effectiveness, and it determines practical aspects of making the program feasible over the long term.  It also allows for changes to be made during the process, as well as reflection when studying the final outcome. 

ECUR 809 - Assignment One

ECUR 809 – Assignment One

A program evaluation of a Prenatal Exercise Program for Urban Aboriginal Women prepared by The Department of Medicine and The School of Physiotherapy at the University of Saskatchewan.

            In March 1995 a weekly fitness program with incentives was developed as a side initiative that paralleled a two year National Health Research and Development Program.  The goal of the program was to promote physical fitness as a way to prevent gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in prenatal First Nations women.  Over the two year period, the program saw great success with the 69 participants in the areas of improving fitness levels and raising self-esteem.  Women who participated in the program provided information for health-based questions, prenatal health information, and basic demographic data upon registration.  The evaluation of the program was conducted to see whether or not it was feasible to create and maintain such an exercise program for urban Aboriginal women and it seems to follow the Scriven model of evaluation. 

            The goals for the program were clearly identified in the evaluation as optimizing healthy pregnancies in urban Aboriginal women as a way to prevent type 2 diabetes in future populations.  Summative and formative methods of collecting data were both used to provide a descriptive analysis of the program.  Formative feedback was provided through field notes from program personnel such as: A Registered Nurse Coordinator, Physiotherapist, Aboriginal Project Facilitator, and a certified exercise instructor.  Summative feedback came from a questionnaire that 51% or participants completed near the end of their pregnancy, or shortly after childbirth.  In the questionnaire that took about 15 minutes, participants were able to provide their own feedback on:  Program structure, incentives, factors that determined attendance, benefits of physical fitness, personal exercise behaviors, and “attitudes and beliefs regarding exercise and sociodemographic information (optional)”.  The chi-squared method of analysis was used to create data that reflected the active participation of women in the program and the success it had in promoting exercise and fitness.  Women that took part also gave positive statements about how the program was beneficial to their health and prenatal wellness and also how it helped to motivate them for further exercise. 

            Limitations of the evaluation were stated in the study.  Although it was beneficial to receive a “post-program” questionnaire, only half of the women that participated were able to provide their feedback because the questionnaire was only developed after the program was well underway.  It would have been interesting to see how responses to the questionnaire differed from telephone interviews to self-administered answers which were the two methods of delivering the survey.  Conversations over the phone could have made an impact on responses because participants may have given answers they thought the facilitator wanted to hear, as opposed to an anonymous response questionnaire.  Another weakness of the evaluation is that information only came from those who attended and did not include the 39% of women who inquired about the program and did not attend.  If the study could compare the data to a standard instead of to the control group of participants, the results could be more conclusive. 

            Reading through the evaluation of this program allowed me to see how programs such as these could really benefit the Aboriginal population in Saskatoon.  Physical fitness is so important to everyone’s health and providing a demographic that is prone to GDM with a flexible, prenatal fitness program that includes incentives such as healthy snacks and beverages, free childcare, bus-tickets, and free information on health and diabetes prevention could only work to help in the fight against type 2 diabetes.  It is a shame that the program could not continue due to the lack of resources and support.