Evaluation During the Development of a Public Health Program in Chronic Disease

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Selected data from the first 1494 examinations performed at the Albany Cardiovascular Health Center are presented to indicate types of evaluations which should be performed in development of a new and complex problem in the public health field. Examples of both long-range and short-term objectives are considered, indicating next steps which are suggested by the data. Importance of proving value of yardsticks used for program evaluation is mentioned. Among the findings were lack of reliability in elicitation of medical history by a physician; positive cardiac family history among cases with coronary heart disease; the fact that ecg and chest X-ray seem to measure different types or degrees of cardiac hypertrophy; inaccuracy of physical examination as a means of measuring heart size; difference among cardiologists in reading ecg for evidence of cardiac hypertrophy; relationship of obesity and hypertension; and use of height-weight plus skinfold readings as screening test for hypertension. Evaluation is presented here more as a scientifically critical point of view[long dash]which must be built into each program during its development-rather than as a special procedure to be performed periodically. As many of our current programs have not been so constructed, their successful evaluation demands rigid attention to validity and reliability of measures upon which conclusions about them are to be based. Authors'' Comment.

This publication has 4 references indexed in Scilit: