Getting the word out: multiple methods for disseminating evaluation findings

To evaluate the effectiveness of different strategies for disseminating evaluation results to program stakeholders.

The results from a process evaluation of eight states' tobacco control programs were disseminated to the state programs that were assigned to one of four dissemination conditions: print reports only, reports and web site, reports and workshop, or all three dissemination modes. Key measures included levels of usefulness of the evaluation results and satisfaction of participation by study participants.

Although exposure to the web site and workshop individually did not provide a statistically higher degree of usefulness, a clear upward trend was observed in usefulness as the number of dissemination modes increased. Participants who engaged in all three dissemination modes found the results more useful (P < .05) for their work and the work of their agency than participants using one or two dissemination modes. Participants who engaged in the three dissemination modes also appeared to be more likely to share the results with their colleagues (P = .06).

This study shows that disseminating evaluation results through multiple, active modes increased usefulness, satisfaction, and further dissemination of the results. Evaluators should consider implementing more than one mode of dissemination to share findings with stakeholders.