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Environmental health indicators in policy evaluation.
Sonja Kahlmeier1, Charlotte Braun-Fahrländer
1Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine of the University of Basel, Department Environment and Health, Switzerland. s.kahlmeier@unibas.ch
European Journal of Public Health
|April 15, 2004
Summary
International environmental health indicators are useful for comparisons but limited for evaluating national programs. A specific evaluation concept is needed to assess national implementation processes and program success.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Public Health Policy
- Program Evaluation
Background:
- International environmental health indicator sets, like the WHO's, facilitate structured monitoring and international comparisons.
- National environmental health programs require specific evaluation frameworks beyond international indicators.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the limitations of international environmental health indicator sets for national program evaluation.
- To emphasize the necessity of tailored evaluation concepts for national environmental health initiatives.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of an international indicator system and a national program evaluation (Swiss National Environment and Health Action Plan).
- Identification of gaps in international indicator sets regarding national implementation process assessment.
Main Results:
- International indicator sets are insufficient for evaluating the success or failure of national environmental health promotion programs.
- National context and implementation processes are critical factors not adequately captured by international sets.
Conclusions:
- A specific evaluation concept, aligned with national goals and targets, is essential for comprehensive assessment of national environmental health programs.
- Effective evaluation requires focusing on the implementation process to determine program success.